Bastille Day
Yes, this is the day that those people in France celebrate the fall of the infamous prison that was near the center of Paris in 1789. Ex-PH2 wrote to remind us. But there is a connection to our own history that you might not know. Because of his own experience in the American Revolution, the Marquis de Lafayette was given a prominent role in the French Revolution. The people of Paris presented him with the key to the Bastille.
To recognize the influence that the American Revolution had on the French version, the Marquis de Lafayette shipped the key to George Washington. The first leg of the journey for the key started in December 1789 in the possession of Thomas Paine, appropriately enough, finally arriving at Mount Vernon during the summer of 1790. Washington put that key in the entrance-way to his residence where it remains today.
It’s easy to forget that the American Republic was unique in the 18th century, that throwing off the shackles of the King of England inspired people around the world to demand their own freedom. That the Key to the Bastille resides in Mount Vernon today is a reminder of that uniqueness. That’s why I have a copy of the Key next to the bust of George Washington on my bookshelf – to remind me.
Category: Historical
Not to be nitpicky, but “December 1989?”
Allons, enfants de la Patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivee!
Interesting how the history worked out. The American Revolution inspired the French Revolution but the results were so different. Instead of freedom, the rule of law and a beacon of hope to the world, The French Revolution resulted in the Jacobins and their Reign of Terror followed by Napoleon Bonaparte.
There’s a lesson in there somewhere…
George V.
Lesson’s pretty clear, George V. “Never trust a little corporal.”
The French and Germans would both have been well-advised to heed that advice. (smile)
@3 Yeah, we’re slow learners. The French betrayed their revolution right off the bat and we’re just getting around to doing the same to ours’.
CC Senior: Franklin warned us about that in 1787. When queried as he was leaving the Constitutional Convention as to what type of government we would have under the Constitution, Franklin replied: “A Republic – if you can keep it.”
Actually, Napoleon was, to my mind, a much better head of government for the French than anyone else they’d had since probably Charlemagne. Probably still true to this day.
Napoleon’s “crime” wasn’t his becoming emperor of France, or even of waging war. It was that he scared the living bejeebus out of all the European monarchies, and that just wouldn’t do.
It may have been the first, and eventually successful, instance where the USA exported civil rights and democracy. Thomas Jefferson was posted as ambassador to France, and provided consultation on the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
Wow, I never knew the significance of the Bastille takeover. Nice post and thanks Ex-PH2.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et toujours!
The lesson is that while the American Revolution was firmly rooted in Christian, the French Revolution was strictly secular. The Christianity of our Founders curbed their baser instincts, and kept them from a “reign of terror” against the huge number of Loyalists remaining in the colonies. There was no such curb for the French.
Our Republic, the free market, and everything else we Americans think important simply doesn’t work without Christian ethics as a foundation. Today’s capitalism is dismal because without the humanizing restraints of Christianity, it has become a nasty, legalistic system focused solely on the bottom line. There must be more to it than that for it to be worth having.
One needn’t believe in any god to see that following the tenets of the Christian one makes life better for society. And this obedience to Christianity must be voluntary, or it becomes as nasty and legalistic as what we have now. The government should encourage good behavior, but it is impossible to legislate it.
Rant over. Thanks for the great, educational post!
Cordially,
Pat
I consider myself to be very decent when it comes to History, from 1750 – to present. But, because of this article I must thank Ex-PH2 for the reminder of this date, and John Lilyea for posting this article and his and several of the other posters for there wealth of information. Each one of you brought forth a great deal of knowledge concerning this day in history, which enlightened me in different areas tremendously and that in turn in excited me, because I learned something new today!
RangerPat…………… Great read and I AGREE with you!
Thanks, Dave
The French were very helpful during the American War for Independence. We all ready said thanks. That’s enough.