Bastille Day and Us
Yesterday was Bastille Day, the day the French celebrate the storming of the Bastille. This act began the French Revolution.
You would think that this would be common knowledge, but apparently Americans are not as adept at French history as I expect them to be. We, the people, tend to expect every other country to know our history, but when it comes to other countries we blank out. This goes for language as well. People in European countries are mostly bi-lingual and often tri- and quad-lingual, but Americans often only speak English and expect everyone else to speak it as well. We have an internal struggle with those that feel everyone in America should be required to speak English even though we have no national language.
Getting back to the Bastille. Why should we know (or care) about this French celebration? Partly because it is good to know history (some may even say it is fun) and partly because we started it. Yes, there is an American connection to the French Revolution. This should pull those readers in that are nationalistic and USA-centered.
You see, during the American Revolution, Louis XVI was kind enough to lend his support (through monetary donations) to the radicals in the colonies (our forefathers and foremothers) at the detriment of his own French citizens.
Revolutionaries in France began circulating propaganda against the thrown leading up to the Bastille storming. You may know the most famous piece of literature circulated as the fake quote “let them eat cake.” Even though Marie Antoinette never actually uttered these words about the people of France, the way she and Louis lived, in such splendour while the masses were struggling, it was appropriate.
So, finally, on 14 July 1789, the revolutionaries stormed the Bastille as an act of aggression and so began the French Revolution. Joyeux 14 Juillet!
So, I hope this was informative and interesting to you. I love learning new things about the past, but I guess I’m just a history geek.
Peace,
Chantale aka hippiegrrl
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