Bastille Day - France's Independence Day

                                        
Bastille Day is much like Independence Day in the United 
States - It is the celebration of a new form of government.
Bastille Day symbolizes the overthrow of the old monarchy 
and the beginning of the French republic.

The Bastille

The Bastille was built in 1382 and was originally used to defend
the east side of Paris from attack. The Bastille had walls more
than 80 feet high and was surrounded by a moat. Hundreds of
years later, the French monarchy converted The Bastille into a
prison to lock up people who didn’t agree with their decisions.
People were jailed by arbitrary decision of the King. The Bastille
was, in particular, known for holding political prisoners whose
writings had displeased the royal government. The prisoners
inside the Bastille were given no trial – they were placed there
under the king’s orders and only he could decide when and if
they would be freed.

The Bastille became a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary
power of King Louis XVI’s Ancient Regime.

For the peasant class, the Bastille stood as a symbol of the
hypocrisy and corruption of the aristocratic government –
controlled mostly by nobility and clergy. The monarchy wasn’t
just undemocratic. The king and the aristocracy also owned the
land and extracted not only the rent, but imposed taxes and
restrictions on the people.

The French people of all classes were frustrated with many of
the problems of their government, including wanting the king to
share his absolute powers, the right to own land and vote, tithes 
and feudal rights, religious staff wanting more money.  

The Beginning of the Revolution

Due to these many reasons, the French people stormed and
seized The Bastille on July 14^th, 1789. Violent peasants pillaged
and burned chateaux, and destroyed records of feudal dues.

At the time of its capture, the Bastille only held seven prisoners.
But the storming of the prison was a symbol of liberty and the
fight against oppression for all French citizens. By capturing this
symbol, the people signaled that the king’s power was no longer
absolute: power should be passed on to the Nation and be
limited by a separation of powers.

The storming of the Bastille was the beginning of the French
Revolution that toppled King Louis XVI and the aristocracy. For
all citizens of France, the storming of the Bastille came to
symbolize liberty and democracy in the struggle against
oppression.

Modern Day Celebrations

Bastille Day was declared a French national
holiday on July 6^th, 1880. Bastille Day has 
such a strong signification for the French
because the holiday symbolizes the birth of the
Republic.

Bastille Day is commemorated world-wide. For
instance, in Philadelphia people dressed as
French revolutionaries mark the day by singing
the La Marseillaise, the French national anthem.

In France, the day holds many festivities. Military parades are
held in the morning, the largest of which takes place on the
Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris in front of the President of the
Republic. The parade opens with cadets from certain schools,
followed by infantry troops, which are then followed by
motorized troops. During the entire parade, aviation flies above.
In recent times, it has become customary to invite units from
France’s close allies into the parade. For instance, in 2002
cadets from the United States Military Academy paraded.

Bastille Day also falls during the running of the Tour de France,
and is traditionally the day upon which French riders will make a
special effort to take a stage victory for France.

Parisians celebrate this national holiday with colorful arts
festivals and raucous parties. Many cities hold fireworks during
the night. It is also customary that firefighters organize dancing
parties.

Everyone is encouraged to raise a glass of champagne and
toast the national freedom they’ve enjoyed for more than 200
years.

Celebrate Bastille Day at Home

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