The Storming of the Bastille

The storming of the Bastille occurred in 1789. This was seen as the first step to the revolution because of this being the first uprising against the military. Throughout history there have been various interpretations over the event and how effective the storming of the Bastille really was in achieving liberty.

Comte de Mirabeau inferred that there were problems to come and that under the royal rule the capital would be "besieged and conquered." Enlightening the reader over how the storming of the Bastille would halt the tyranny and would supposedly bring liberty into the hands of the people. Whereas Source A, agrees with this assertion by referring to "the people where already suffering." However, the writer of Source A did not believe liberty had been bought to a standstill by the royals but, source A had not been present throughout the storming of the Bastille. In comparison to Source B which had been present throughout the process of the fighting within the capital.

Louis Beragner the writer of Source A speaks of how they were not perfect either. Louis mentions the possibility of great un-rest "houses of Parisians burned to the ground." As a result Louis does not believe that the people of Paris known as the Parisians had created the liberty that they had longed for because of their houses being burned to the ground in order to achieve this apparent liberty. Source B however, written by Mirabeau explains that the people where in fact the victims rather than the problem "terrible slaughter... friends of the people." This would mean or imply that not only where criminals were being murdered but also the general citizens of Paris. By Louis Beragner implying this it would be possible to say that Beragner was trying to inform the first and second estate rather than all three of the estates. However, Source B is aimed at everyone and has thereby been written after the storming of the Bastille. Confirming the belief that the newspaper written by Mirabeau would have been heavily influenced by the views of revolutionaries specifically the Sans Culottes.

The author of Source C shows a more radical view over how much liberty had actually been accomplished in society. Source C does agree with Louis Beragner the writer of Source B as they mutually agree over the idea that liberty had been achieved however, the radical pamphlets suggest how radical France had become. "Sense and blessed liberty." This type of language within the pamphlets Illustrate the extent of Frances fixated ideas over how liberty had become and their triumph for justice. In comparison to Source B this is merely summing up the events of the past. Source C, shows enthusiasm / obsession towards freedom and an ideology which had become over popular and gained to much strength, eventually resulting in a counter- revolution.

Source D, written by Etienne Motjoye, has enforced his strong and passionate views

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