What event marked the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789?

The Storming of the Bastille is often regarded as the definitive event that marked the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. This dramatic event occurred on July 14, 1789, when revolutionaries stormed the Bastille Prison, which had become a symbol of the tyranny of the Bourbon monarchy. The Bastille was seen as a fortress that represented royal authority, and its fall symbolized the uprising of the people against the oppressive regime.

The storming of the Bastille galvanized widespread support for the revolutionary cause and inspired many French citizens to challenge the existing social and political structures. It is celebrated annually in France as Bastille Day, a national holiday that symbolizes liberty and the fight against oppression.

While the establishment of the National Assembly was a significant event in the initial stages of the revolution, it was the Storming of the Bastille that truly ignited the revolutionary fervor among the populace and marked the transition from passive discontent to active revolt. The execution of King Louis XVI and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte occurred later in the revolutionary timeline and were outcomes rather than beginnings.