9. The Bastille Fell Under Attack
Once a well-known fortress in Paris, the Bastille had fallen into housing political prisoners. On July 14, 1789, an angry mob decided to march on the Bastille, intent on tearing down what was considered a symbol of their city. The troops in charge only sustained their ground for a few hours before succumbing to the force of the mob. After hearing the news about the fortress crumbling to the ground, brick by brick, King Louis XVI withdrew the royal troops from the French capital only to realize he couldn’t reverse the start of the Revolution.
8. The March Towards Versailles
The French peasants were hungry, unemployed and restless. In response to the abundant wealth of the rich, a large crowd of mostly women decided to march from Paris to the Palace of Versailles in October. They despised the way that the French nobility overlooked their pain and suffering, especially that of Queen Marie Antoinette, the Austrian socialite who paraded her wealth. The crowd descended on the Palace, shouting at the King to come and see the way they lived their lives. Reluctantly, the King followed, hoping to settle the people’s anger and frustrations.
7. The Royals Flee, But Get Caught in Varennes
The National Assembly was still hoping to come to an agreement on a new constitution for France. Members of the Assembly wanted to put restrictions on the King’s authority – an idea that was quickly refuted by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Hoping to flee to escape this new possibility, they decided to leave France for Austria. On June 20, 1791, the royal family left, but only managed to make it a few miles shy of the border before getting recognized in Varennes. Not only were they forced to return, but the French people now knew they were against their plan for a new Constitution.