The Outbreak of the Revolution

The Bastille was a fortress prison and symbol of royal power. Exam tip: link it with despotism.

The Bastille was stormed on 14 July 1789. Exam tip: this is a key date of the French Revolution.

The Bastille was attacked on 14 July 1789 mainly because the people of Paris believed it contained arms and gunpowder needed for their defence. Tension was high after the king dismissed the popular minister Necker, and crowds feared that royal troops might suppress the National Assembly and the people. The fortress-prison also symbolised arbitrary royal authority, so its capture had powerful political meaning. Nevertheless, the immediate practical reason was to obtain weapons and ammunition. Thus option A is correct. The attack was not related to selling bread, celebrating the king’s birthday, or building a church. The fall of the Bastille became a major symbol of the French Revolution.

The Bastille was a fortress and prison in Paris, but its importance to the people was mainly symbolic. It represented the arbitrary and despotic authority of the king, because royal power could be used to imprison people without a normal public trial. Many people therefore saw the Bastille as a visible sign of oppression and the unchecked power of the monarchy.

Option A is correct because the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 expressed opposition to royal despotism. It did not mainly symbolise peasant freedom, cheap bread, or the creation of schools. Although food shortages and social inequality helped create revolutionary anger, the Bastille specifically stood for political repression and the king’s arbitrary authority. Its fall became a powerful early symbol of the French Revolution.

The Bastille was demolished because it symbolised despotic power. Exam tip: remember both event and symbol.

Shortage and high price of bread increased unrest. Exam tip: link food crisis with urban discontent.

The presence of troops made people fear repression. Exam tip: remember the link between troops and rumours.

The Great Fear was linked with rural rumours and peasants' anxiety. Exam tip: understand it as a rural reaction.

Peasants targeted nobles' properties and records. Exam tip: remember the anti-feudal nature.

Records contained evidence of feudal dues. Exam tip: link burning records with anti-feudal protest.

The Great Fear spread mainly in French villages. Exam tip: keep urban and rural events separate.

Feudal privileges were abolished on 4 August 1789. Exam tip: link this date with peasants' actions.

On this night steps were taken to abolish feudal dues and privileges. Exam tip: see it as a result of rural unrest.

The women's march was linked with the bread crisis. Exam tip: connect it with women's role in popular action.

In October 1789, women angered by bread shortages and high prices marched to Versailles. Under pressure, King Louis XVI, the queen, and the royal family were brought from Versailles to Paris, where they remained closer to popular supervision. The National Assembly was not dissolved; it continued its reform work. Exam tip: remember the Versailles march through the link ‘demand for bread’ and ‘the king moved to Paris.’

Events like bread unrest and storming of the Bastille occurred in Paris. Exam tip: remember Paris as a revolutionary centre.

The storming of the Bastille became a symbol of popular revolt. Exam tip: remember it as an early symbol of revolution.

The old voting method weakened the Third Estate. Exam tip: write voting system as a cause of dispute.

The National Assembly aimed to make a constitution for France. Exam tip: remember the link between National Assembly and constitution.

The empty treasury forced the king to call a representative body. Exam tip: link financial crisis with political crisis.