Bastille Day: July 14
Bastille Day is celebrated in France as a public holiday.
Bastille Day is celebrated in France every year on fourteenth of July to commemorate the start of the great French Revolution of the eighteenth century which put an end to the French Aristocracy. The day was when the rebels stormed the fortress of Bastille Prison and broke out the inmates, and hence causing the initiation of the great revolution, which was later recognized as the foundation for the development of the great country of France.
The day is known as Fête de la Federation in French whereas in English it is known as the Bastille Day. This day is a National Holiday in the country of France and various celebrations take place during this day. Let’s see more about the history of the day and the celebrations that take place during this day.
Bastille Day History
France was in a terrible financial crisis under the rule of Louis XVI and was nearing national bankruptcy. This was due to its foreign policy of imperialism and its part in various foreign wars such as the Seven Years War and the American Revolution. This situation was so worse that most of the peasants had no stable income and food. The newly appointed Director General had analyzed the situation and proposed a new taxation scheme.
Initially the nobles and clergy were non taxable, (i.e.) they were exempted from taxation. Under the new scheme there was a fixed taxation scheme and land taxes for the nobles. Naturally this plan was not accepted by the nobles resulting in the dismissal of the Director General and with an appointment of a new person called Neckter for that post. He was initially cautious and didn’t directly change the taxation rules. He arranged for the meeting of the Three Estates.
Bastille Day – The Three Estates Meeting
The three estates were organized as follows. The first estate consisted of the nobles, the second estate consisted of the Clergy and the third estate consisted of the Common people. These had representatives who could decide upon legislations and acts. Each of the estates had one vote each. This was a biased meeting since the clergy and the nobles usually teamed together and voted for in favor for each other and hence ruling out the common people’s need.
The convening of the meeting made the people realize that they would be outvoted for the taxation scheme and they feared that most of the representatives they had in the government would be imprisoned without trial for not supporting the monarch. Neckter supported the Third estate, which was for the common people. The Three Estates Meeting took place on May 5, 1789 and there were no actual resolutions passed but the support that Neckter had for the common people became evident.
The Storming of the Bastilles
Neckter was dismissed from his post when he had the nerve to suggest that the Royal Family itself should pay taxes. The Conservatives began their open Rebellion against the monarch and they feared that they would be put down by the Royal French Army. The battalion for the common people neither contained the required skill nor the ammunition for the coup. For its Ammunition and weapons the rebels decided to attack the fort of Bastilles. This was a fortress cum prison for the Political minds that rebelled against the monarchy.
At the time of attack there were only seven prisoners but a large amount of weaponry and ammunition that the revolutionaries needed. The attack took place in July of the year 1789. It was a siege and eventually the fort fell to the revolutionaries and the act was a rallying point for French Revolutionaries. The monarchy was abolished at the end of the French Revolution
The Early Celebrations of the Bastille Day
The Fête de la Federation was initially observed on July 14, 1790 as the First anniversary of the storming of the Fortress of Bastille. A four day feast was organized and the Eiffel Tower and its surrounding areas were voluntarily decorated and fireworks were displayed with much Fanfare. This day had meant the start of an improbable Freedom to the people of France.
Bastille Day Traditions and Activities
The present day festivities include a parade with red arrows flying overhead in front of the President of the Republic of France. The parade is followed by an interview given by the President describing the present situations and the pardoning of offenders. The day also includes the decoration of the Eiffel tower and the fireworks display. Bastille Day is celebrated to commemorate the start of the revolution which changed the country’s history.
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