Remembering the French Revolution
Posted by MRL on Jul 14th 2016
Joyeux 14 Juillet!
Bastille Day marks the start of the French Revolution. The French people were already desperate after years of heavy taxation, droughts, and diseases. On July 14th, 1789, a mob stormed the Bastille prison, looking for gunpowder and cannons, but ultimately freeing the prisoners inside. The fall of the Bastille symbolized the end of the French monarchy and the ancien régime.
A national holiday in France today, Bastille Day honors those who fought for equality and liberty, and has been held every year since 1790. Today it is celebrated with parades, fireworks, balls, and community festivities. It remains a symbol of the power of the people for everyone.
French Revolution from "A Franczia rémuralom története a legujabb források felhasználásával. [Illustrated.]". - 1890 - The British Library, United Kingdom - Public Domain.