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Bastille
The fortress of the Bastille in Paris is converted into a state prison. -
King Lois XVI called royal segments
Louis XVI called six royal regiments into the Paris region, and on 1 July he summoned ten more -
unify into national assembly
France's three estates are reconciled into a unified National Assembly; the Estates-General concludes. -
Parisians invade prison
Ordered to disperse one of the many crowds on 27 June, five companies of the semi-military French Guard mutinied instead. When ten of these guards were imprisoned for indiscipline, 4,000 Parisians invaded the prison and freed them. This unrest, fueled by the presence of royal soldiers, would soon swell into a tempest when news reached the city of Necker’s dismissal. -
Jacques Necker was fired
Jacques Necker, Chief Minister and champion of the Third Estate, was the main target of the kings wrath. Blamed by the conservative faction at Versailles for the failings of the Estates-General, Necker received the wrath of the Comte d’Artois, the king’s youngest brother, who referred to him as a “foreign traitor” who should be hanged. At the urging of Artois and Queen Marie Antoinette, Louis fired Necker on 11 July, ordering him to leave the country immediately. -
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riots of 12-13 July
The Palais-Royal, Paris residence of the revolution-sympathizing Duke of Orléans, had become a favorite meeting spot for Parisian revolutionaries. It was here where the outraged masses gathered on 12 July, when word of Necker’s dismissal and exile became public knowledge. By the afternoon, over 6,000 people had congregated at the palace, looking for somewhere to direct their anger. -
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continuation of riots of 12-13 July
purpose was given to them by 29-year-old journalist Camille Desmoulins. Leaping upon a table in the Café Foy in the gardens of the Palais-Royal, Desmoulins delivered a rousing speech in which he lauded Necker and emphasized the threat of the soldiers, whose oppressive presence could lead to another St. Bartholomew’s Massacre. Brandishing a pistol, Desmoulins issued a call to arms, stating that, “I would rather die than submit to servitude.” -
bread prices reached all-time high
A poor harvest followed by a devastating winter meant that bread prices were the highest they had ever been in the 18th century, reaching an all-time high on 14 July. Since bread constituted a significant portion of the average French diet, the poorest workers were forced to spend up to 80% of their income on bread alone. Naturally, angry crowds began to gather. -
true riot begins
Over 40 tollgates were burned, along with the documents and tax records within. Fearing retaliation from the king’s soldiers, people began raiding every gunsmith and armory in the city. Although the Hotel de Ville authorized the formation of a Paris citizens’ militia for defense, people still raided the armory at the Invalides on the morning of the 14th, making off with over 30,000 muskets. with no ammo, the crowd looked to a location where they could find some: the fortress of the Bastille. -
storming of Bastille and arrest of governor m. De Launay
at 10 am, crowds gathered outside the Bastille Fortress asking the governor of it.Long story short, they got in, took Launay (the governor) and killed him and Jacques de Flesselles and stuck their heads on pikes and marched around the city parading the heads around and singing joyfully. -
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aftermath of the storming
the king was losing power but hr put someone else in charge of the guard the people tore down the Bastille, having it completely gone by November with over 1,000 citizens helping tear it down. the key was later given to George Washington. the king basically said he was sorry, and to symbolize the kings reconciliation with his people, the tricolors of France were created. -
celebration of the storming
people had the first celebration of the storming and fall of the Bastille