Cause Of The Bastille Uprising Of 1789

In May of 1789 a series of so called 'bread riots' erupted throughout the country, in places like Picardy, Normandy and Flanders. On the 12 July, one of Louis's financial ministers Necker was dismissed and this dismissal was a signal of the power struggle for control of the country. In the coming days following this, the people attacked monasteries and a veterans hospital in search of arms. The army Louis had deployed to quell this uprising were considered untrustworthy by the sacked elected city officials. These officials created a citizens militia, however they were unable to control the people - "But we made a sorry showing; we could not contain the people's fury; if we had gone too far, they would have exterminated us. It is not the moment

This formidable fortress posed problems for the rebels as it seemed impenetrable. There was a spell of negotiations but the peoples patience wore thin and the cannon that had been taken from the veterans hospital was dragged to face the Bastille gate. At such close range, there was no other option for those inside but to surrender. This they did on the 14 July. While this was taking place, the assembly were in session at the palace of Versailles. They urged the king to withdraw the troops as this might appease the rebels, but Louis was hesitant and resisted. He knew that the significant presence and the large number of the army could crush this revolt, however his will was weak and he did back down and the army were pulled back. This moment is a clear display of Louis's loss of power. He had lost any shred of authority he had left by giving in. After this, the Estates General was dissolved and a single National Assembly was created in its

Marie also had a brief moment on the balcony before her husband, as the crowd thirsted for her blood. This was to be their last time in Versailles.
From then on, they were to become royal prisoners in Paris. In January 1793, the current National Assembly, or Convention voted on Louis’s punishment. They voted in favour of execution and Louis was informed of this. He made three last requests, to have three days to prepare for his death, to visit his family one last time and to choose his own confessor. The first was denied; the execution was to take place the following day (21 January) and the other two were granted.
Louis was brought to the scaffold the next day on the 21 January 1793. He spoke to the crowd but his final words were drowned out by the beating of the drums. He was hastily bound to a plank, tilted horizontal and placed beneath the guillotine. The blade was released but his neck was so fat that his head was not severed on the first attempt, and the guillotine had to be released a second time. His wife Marie Antoinette was similarly executed nine months