The Bastille essays

The Bastille essays "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" wrote Charles Dickins while attempting to describe pre-revoulotion France. (Tale of Two Cities, 1) The 3rd estate, though consisting of 98% of the population, had no power, and little money. The 1st and 2nd estates, on the other hand, enjoyed endless luxeries. The bourgeoisie, or middle class, was especialy discontented at having money, but no power. Enlightenment ideas spread throughout France. The notion that the first two esates have great privilages at the expence of the majority did not meet the standards of the ever popular enlightenment thinkers. The 3rd estate grew angry. As the years passed, france tumbled into dept. Expensive wars like the Seven Years' War and the American Revolotion emptied the pockets of King Louis XVI. Deficit spending for years cuased the government to be bankrupt. Inflation ran rampid across France, and some starved, not able to keep up with sky high price of bread. In Paris, confusion. Better than 800 French gathered outside of the Bastille, a and old midevil castle used now as a jail for political prisoners. The crowed wanted weapons and gun powder rumered to be stored there. Also, tension increased when word spread that royal troops were going to occupy the city. On July 14,1789, Launay, the govener of the fortress, refused to open the gates to angry Paris mobs. The mob charged Launay's small garrison (80 Invalides, and 30 swiss Guards) fired on the mob and slaughtered 100 civilians (Fracois Furlet, 77). This enfuriated the mob. 300 French Guards and some citizens led by a non-comissioned officer called Hulin a nd a and an officer in the Queen's Infantry, Elie, placed four cannons in position to fire at the main draw bridge. Launay surrendered at five: "Elie accepted his surrender and promised him safe conduct, but there was little hope of persuading the mob to respect this promise: the people felt that they had been betrayed...