Celebrate Bastille Day With These Bastille Day History Worksheets

In 2016, Hollywood released a movie titled Bastille Day (later renamed into “The Take”). While the name and the theme of the movie are in the spirit of the actual Bastille Day holiday in France, students should learn the real-life events that still inspire writers today. Indeed, Bastille Day history is an exciting topic worth celebrating in the classroom. But, how to create a fun and memorable lesson around this topic? 

We made this article to address that exact question and to inspire educators worldwide with ideas that commemorate events from world history, such as the French Revolution. However, teaching about the French Revolution doesn’t have to be yet another boring history lesson with a lot of years to remember! Using the history of Bastille Day, you can tell a captivating and empowering story. Best of all, with our fun and interactive worksheets, kids won’t even feel like they’re learning history!

So, without further ado, let’s start from the very beginning of Bastille Day history!

What’s Bastille Day? 

Bastille Day is how the rest of the world refers to France’s National Day (French: Fête nationale) legally called “Le 14 Juillet ,” which is celebrated on the 14th of July, marking the anniversary of the day when the Bastille Prison was stormed. This event is considered the official start of the French Revolution and is today a symbol for despotism and freedom. 

The 14th of July became an official holiday in France in 1880 when the government of the Third French Republic decided to adopt the 14th of July as a national festival, something that was already unofficially celebrated in France from the time of the French Revolution. 

An important characteristic of this holiday is the French military parade which is being held annually, every morning on the 14th of July from 1800 to this day. In fact, some experts refer to this parade as “the oldest and largest military parade in Europe.” 

Aside from the military parade, the day is celebrated with food, entertainment, and lots of music and dancing. In other countries, this is a day when people celebrate French culture and tradition. 

However, today’s festivals that honor freedom carry a rich history that should not be forgotten amidst all the dancing and joy. Why is Bastille Day considered such an important event? 

Bastille Day History

The history of Bastille Day can teach students about the power of unity, the success that comes with determination, and that even the strongest bullies can be defeated if we come together. Even though it’s a bloody event that ushered a war, the symbolism behind these events inspire many young readers even today. 

What Was Bastille?

The Bastille was a medieval fortress and a safe-haven for many important figures in the state because of its control over a critical route in and out of Paris. People fleeing the city would take refuge in the fortress and sometimes even prisoners were being held there. In fact, the first prisoner in the Bastille fortress was its own creator, Hugues Aubriot. In 1417, the fortress was officially transformed into a prison. 

But Bastille being a prison was not the problem nor it caused dissatisfaction, it was the monarchs who abused their power by having total control over the fortress as a prison that turned Bastille into a notorious and hated object. 

To be more specific, before the French Revolution, the Bastille prison represented the harsh rule of the Bourbon monarchy, even when it was rarely used. The reason for this is that the prisoners in Bastille were mainly political opponents of the king, imprisoned on his order for which there was no appeal.  

The Bourbon Monarchy

House of Bourbon was a European royal family that ruled for centuries in France and Spain. But, the Bourbons that we’re interested in are King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette of Austria. King Louis XVI was the last king of France before the French Revolution.

While King Louis XVI was not considered a cruel leader, his poor economic and political decisions brought widespread discontent among the people. Both Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette enjoyed an extravagant life followed by unreasonable spendings, which according to historians brought the country on the verge of bankruptcy.

This situation was further worsened by two years of poor harvest leading to skyrocketing bread prices and many other economic difficulties. Instead of relief, Louis XVI’s actions further increased the already present distress, riots, and strikes. 

The culmination happened on the 14th of July in 1789 when revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison and freed the prisoners, marking the start of the French Revolution. 

July 14h 1789

The event which is popularly known as the “Storming of the Bastille” happened on the 14th of July 1789 in Paris. At that time, the Bastille fortress had only seven prisoners but represented royal authority and Louis XVI’s abuse of power, which is why it’s considered a symbolic act, rather than a strategic decision for the cause. 

In fact, the conquerors of the Bastille were common people, wine merchants, local artisans, and army deserters. On the 14th of July, they formed a crowd of around 900 to 1000 people requesting the garrison to give them the arms and gunpowder stored inside the prison. Their requests were denied, and while negotiations were still ongoing, a small group entered the prison from another side causing noise, confusion, and fear, which ultimately turned the crowd into a mob. 

The conflict escalated quickly and turned the event into bloodshed where around 90 people were killed and a lot more were injured. The sudden turn of events forced King Louis XVI’s military commanders to back down, which echoed across France. 

The unexpected violence and the success of the common people against the king’s military commanders reassured people that change is needed and is coming with the French Revolution.

The French Revolution

The French Revolution is considered a period of societal and political changes from 1789 to the late 1790s. It’s also one of the most violent and bloody turning points in Europe that transformed France and ended the so-called Ancien Régime, or Old Regime, a political and social system of the Kingdom of France. Many historians consider the French Revolution as one of the most important events in human history as it not only changed the course of history in Europe, but also inspired many other revolutions later on, such as the Russian Revolution where phrases like “Liberté, égalité, fraternité” were used.

What was achieved with the French Revolution?

First was the abolition of the Old Regime and the creation of a constitutional monarchy or democratic monarchy. This is a form of restricted monarchy where the monarch exercises authority in accordance with written constitutional laws, which limits their power and ability to abuse that power. 

Second, after the French Revolution, the First French Republic was established in September 1792. It lasted only three years, until 1795 when Napoleon Bonaparte disbanded it, but it was a major step toward a democratic form of government as we have today.  

Third, the French Revolution caused another great change by shifting the power from the Church to the state. The revolutionaries supported an anti-Church regime, which was actually a resentment toward the Church’s practices, a sentiment fueled by thinkers such as Voltaire and the great philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

And, while the French Revolution did not accomplish all of its goals, plus most things failed before being reinstated again later in time, it did show the world an example of a new form of government that resembles many governments today. 

The end of the French Revolution is marked by the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon became one of the world’s greatest military leaders and the first emperor of France who managed to conquer much of Europe in the early 19th century.

He is also known for revolutionizing the military organization, introducing new training disciplines, establishing the Napoleonic Code, and reorganizing the educational system. 

Bastille Day History Worksheets

The French Revolution and Bastille Day history are such iconic events in human history that we can talk about them all day. But, if we did that, kids would quickly become overwhelmed with information and zone out during the lecture. This is why we recommend the use of worksheets! They’re designed with the purpose of stimulating students and keeping their attention with fun visual elements and game-like educational material. 

You can celebrate Bastille Day with our Bastille Day history worksheet pack that also comes with in-depth information regarding the events surrounding Bastille Day. The pack contains 11 ready-to-use worksheets that you can download with one click. Also check out our free French Revolution curriculum download for how to approach teaching it and relevant topics! 

Other relevant worksheets include:

• French Revolution Worksheet Pack
• Napoleon Bonaparte Facts & Worksheets
• King Louis XVI Facts & Worksheets
• Marie Antoinette Facts & Worksheets

Also, look out for other worksheets included in the article that might help you deliver a comprehensive and fun lecture. That being said, you can always visit our website directly and browse through our worksheet library to find what you’re looking for. 

What We Can Learn from Bastille Day History?

Today, we celebrate Bastille Day with music and dance, honoring freedom and equality because the French Revolution taught us that no one is invincible and being born in privilege doesn’t equal success (King Louis XVI was executed in 1793). These are powerful underlying messages that not only inspired great changes in Europe, but still motivate and teach children about human values and integrity. 

It’s interesting that visitors today can’t find a trace of the infamous Bastille fortress in France and the reason for this is that people quickly demolished it after Bastille Day because they saw it as a symbol of tyranny. On the spot, today lies the Place de la Bastille, a square in Paris that commemorates the lives lost during the French Revolution with the lines “Génie de la Liberté” (Spirit of Freedom).

Students should learn that the legacy of Bastille Day history and the French Revolution in general is not found in the magnitude of the physical events, but rather the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice mirrored in today’s modern democracies. 

For instance, French revolutionaries didn’t just fight for national independence, they fought to establish principles of freedom for all people worldwide, an idea that lays the foundation of today’s basic human freedoms and human rights. 

The French “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen” focused mainly on the rights of liberty, equality, and happiness by outlining the principles of a government that aims to protect and empower its citizens. 

The French Revolution raised awareness about the status of women in society and the problematic justification of slavery which was abolished by the French National Convention. Women were given equal rights to sue for separation and child custody and they even formed their own political clubs advocating for the right to vote and hold office. 

These examples are a testament to how open to changes and radical the nature of the French Revolution was. Unlike other political movements worldwide, the revolution in France experimented with new ideas, openly debated fundamental questions concerning human nature and human roles, and left room for new changes.

How To Celebrate Bastille Day With Kids

Aside from the rich history that you can tell and our awesome worksheet packs, you can also implement practical activities or other interactive assignments to commemorate Bastille Day. 

Organize a Debating Team – the events surrounding Bastille Day and the French Revolution, in general, are very fruitful topics for moral and social discussions where children can exercise their argumentative power in order to advocate for or against the actions during this period. 

Watch a Documentary – You can also stimulate visual learners and let kids absorb knowledge by watching documentaries such as BBC Documentary from 2015 or “The French Revolution Movie” from 2005. For younger learners, you can watch interesting series such as the Crash Course’s take on the French Revolution on YouTube. 

Take a Virtual Tour – Museums are a great way to make historical events more real, given that for kids it might seem like just a story. Plus, visiting museums is always an exciting and memorable experience. However, sometimes we have to adapt when visiting a museum in real life is not possible, like during the pandemic. When it comes to the French Revolution and Bastille Day, the Museum of the French Revolution – Domaine de Vizille is the place to be. Check out their website for upcoming virtual events.

Make a Graphic Timeline or Map – To keep kids engaged in the lesson, you can divide them into groups and ask them to make a graphic timeline or a map of all the events surrounding the French Revolution, starting with Bastille Day and ending with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This is going to help kids spatially organize and connect all the concepts they learn during the lecture. 

Celebrate French Culture – Another way to honor the holiday is to teach kids more about France in general, try French cuisine, and talk about some of the things that define the ideas and values that France is known for. 

Before You Go

With this article, we hope that we’ve inspired you to celebrate Bastille Day, not only with our Bastille Day history worksheets, but also with other activities that will capture students’ attention and teach them valuable lessons, such as the importance of freedom and equality. 

This day also represents a unique opportunity to teach kids about diversity, inclusion, tolerance, and empathy toward others by pointing out the consequences of tyranny, bullying, and/or abusing one’s privilege or power. These are all things that students feel on a daily basis as they try to adapt to life in school, which makes the topic highly relevant to them. 

And, before we say goodbye, let us remind you once again to check out our website and browse through our growing library of worksheets and other teaching resources for all your current and future needs when it comes to building a solid lesson plan.

On our blog, you can find other interesting articles with valuable pieces of advice concerning all aspects of children’s education, including teaching practices, learning methods, seasonal topics, events, and guides for developing specific skills.