What was the importance of the storming of Bastille in the development of the French Revolution?

Question

To place the question in a more specific context:

Explain the importance of the storming of the Bastille in the development of the French Revolution between July and August 1789.

All comments are appreciated!

Answer 1

Bastille was something like a symbol of royal power and despotism, so its defeat was a strong motivator. Besides, there was lots of ammunition stored inside the Bastille, which the revolutionaries needed for their cause.

You can find lots of info in Wiki on this topic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storming_of...

Answer 2

The storming, and subsequent take over of the Bastille, ushered in the beginning of the French Revolution. No longer were the angry peasants defying local lords, but they were now striking at the symbolic heart of the monarchy. The Bastille, a hated emblem of control and domination, became the war cry for hundreds of thousands of scorned and maltreated revolutionaries. However, the Bastille did not always ring with such discord as it did in the late seventeen hundreds.

Taken from the French word ‘bastide’....

http://www.essortment.com/all/historyofb...

http://ecl.dukejournals.org/cgi/reprint/...

http://library.thinkquest.org/C006257/re...

http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Bastille

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subj...