Question

What did Bastille symbolise as?
A. Military strength of France
B. Humanity
C. Despotic rule of Louis XVI
D. Louis XVI's cowardice act

Answer 1

Hint: Bastille was a mediaeval fortress in Paris that became a French state prison and a place of detention in the 17th and the 18th centuries for people charged with various offences. It played an important place in the ideology of the revolution.

Complete answer: Bastille during the French revolution became a symbol of the absolute and oppressive power of the Bourbon monarchy, an important place in the ideology of the revolution.
Cardinal de Richelieu who was the first person who used Bastille as a state prison in the 17th century. People who were political troublemakers were held as prisoners and individuals at the request of the families were also included. Under Louis XVI became a place of judicial detention. The Bastille was stormed by the members of the third state because of the demands that they have made for more say in the government. The revolutionaries approached the Bastille and demanded the military leader to surrender the prison and hand over the gunpowder. However, when the leader refused to do so the crowd became agitated and broke into the fortress. The aftermath of the storming of Bastille led to the series of events to overthrow the king Louis XVI and the French revolution.
Now talking about the military strength of France during Louis XVI it was a loosely organised force of 70,000 men. The army consisted of local militias, mercenaries, guard units etc. Uniforms and organisations weapons drill promotions were improved or introduced in the army under Louis XVI. Louis XVI had also helped American armies in the war of independence which put France into more debt.
Therefore the Bastille symbolises the despotic rule of Louis XVI and became a symbol of social injustice, absolute monarchy and inequality.
Hence, option c. is correct.

Note: The storm and the success of revolutionaries gave commoners a voice in the revolution and the courage to rise and fight against the nobles who had oppressed and ruled them. The date of storming the Bastille day is celebrated as a French National Holiday in today's time.