The Storming of the Bastille and Its Impact on the French Revolution

On July 14, 1789, Parisians stormed the Bastille, a pivotal event in the French Revolution. This act was driven by social, economic, and political crises, including the dismissal of finance minister Jacques Necker and the gathering of royal troops around Paris. The Bastille, though nearly obsolete as a prison, symbolized royal tyranny. Its fall marked the end of the Ancien Regime and is celebrated as Bastille Day, influencing the revolution's momentum and leading to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.

What was the significance of the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789?

• It was a peaceful protest for economic reform.

• It was a pivotal moment in the French Revolution.

• It was the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

• It marked the beginning of World War I.

What action by King Louis XVI increased tensions before the storming of the Bastille?

• He gathered royal troops around Paris.

• He reduced taxes for the nobility.

• He declared war on England.

• He signed a peace treaty with Austria.

Why was the Bastille seen as a symbol of royal tyranny?

• It was a luxurious palace for the king.

• It was a marketplace for the nobility.

• It was a prison that held political prisoners.

• It was a center for royal celebrations.

What did the crowd demand from the Bastille during the storming?

• Maps and documents

• Gold and silver

• Cannons and gunpowder

• Food and water

What happened to the Bastille's military governor after the storming?

• He was imprisoned in the Bastille.

• He fled to England.

• He was promoted to a higher rank.

• He was killed and his head was put on a pike.

What was one of the outcomes of the fall of the Bastille?

• The end of the Industrial Revolution

• The signing of the Magna Carta

• The start of the American Revolution

• The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

What does Bastille Day commemorate?

• The end of World War II

• The fall of the Bastille and the French Revolution

• The signing of the Treaty of Versailles

• The coronation of King Louis XVI