The Storming of the Bastille

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  • Created by: MKSRoux
  • Created on: 09-01-17 20:43

The Storming of the Bastille

Causes

  • Economic crisis in Paris - riots as violent protests against the scarcity & high price of bread, falling living standards created dissatisfaction which led to discontent -> harnessed to bring crowds on to the streets to support the National Assembly
  • Economic crisis created dangerously unstable situation & contributed to the emergence of a popular movement - protests among workers & small traders were directed against the government because of its inability to deal with the economic crisis
  • At Palais-Royal in Paris - each night thousands gathered to listen to revolutionary speakers
  • Dismissal of Necker reached Paris on 12th July & inspired large-scale demonstrations against the King
  • Parisians feared this marked the start of Louis' attempt to restore his power by force - frantic search for muskets & ammunition - clashes with royal troops guarding the Tuileries
  • Many Gardes-françaises disobeyed their orders & deserted to the representatives of the people of Paris
  • Barricades thrown up across many streets to impede the progress of royal forces loyal to the King

Effects

  • The King had lost control of Paris, where the electors set up a Commune to run the city
  • Lafayette was appointed commander of the predominantly bourgeois National Guard
  • The National Constituent Assembly prepared to draw up a constitution, no longer under threat of being dissolved by the King
  • Real power had passed from the King to the elected representatives of the people. Louis now had to share his power with the National Assembly
  • Louis was no longer in a position to dictate to the Assembly, because he could not rely on the army
  • News of the fall of the Bastille spread through France & intensified activity among the peasantry
  • The revolt of Paris led to the emigration of some nobles, led by the King's brother the Comte d'Artois: 20,000 émigrés fled abroad in two months

Overall summary

Demonstrators -> Les Invalides for 28,000 muskets & 20 cannon. Short of gunpowder & cartridges-> fortress of the Bastille. Crowd denied entry by the governor, de Launay - refused to hand over any gunpowder. No intention of storming the fortress but a group managed to enter the inner courtyard - 98 were killed. Gardes-françaises supporting the crowd overcame the defenders. De Launay forced to surrender - murdered & decapitated by enraged crowd.

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