For John, BLUF: This is Bastille Day, the French holiday celebrating the French Revolution. Nothing to see here; just move along.
The storming of the Bastille Prison in 1789 was a tipping point for the revolutionary fever gripping Paris and its surrounding areas. In and of itself it was a minor event, but it was the spark that lit the fires of revolution:
At this point, the Bastille was nearly empty, housing only seven prisoners: four forgers; James F.X. Whyte, a "lunatic" imprisoned at the request of his family; Auguste-Claude Tavernier, who had tried to assassinate Louis XV thirty years before; and one "deviant" aristocrat, the Comte de Solages, imprisoned by his father using a lettre de cachet (while the Marquis de Sade had been transferred out ten days earlier).The French Revolution and its aftermath spread revolution across Europe, leading to the spread of democracy and freedom (more revolutions). Perhaps the most important change was the sense of empowerment amongst the People.
Unlike our "Revolution," which was mostly about succession, the French Revolution included the inevitable result of revolutions, the "Revolutions eat their children." This is not a good thing for those who get consumed.
Be thankful for our more evolutionary approach to changing government and ensuring the freedom of the People.
Regards — Cliff
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