Why is Bastille Day so significant that it became a French National Holiday?

The Bastille was a prison over 400 year old in Paris that housed general prisoners, political dissenters and also victims of the King's penal lettres du cachet (arrest and imprisonment without any benefit of trial or appeal). It had a notorious reputation for holding the latter two catergories of prisoners and was seen as representing the oppression and abuse of priviledge by the King and the nobility of France.

Its storming by Parisian demonstrators in 1789 is considered one of the actions that initiated and influenced the actions that occurred during the French Revolution.

Improve Answer Discuss the question "Why is Bastille Day so significant that it became a French National Holiday?" Watch Question

First answer by Rottingsun. Last edit by Rottingsun. Contributor trust: 133 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 20 [recommend question]

Also see on Answers.com

Research your answer:

Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > History Politics and Society > Holidays and Traditions > Why is Bastille Day so significant that it became a French National Holiday?

Our contributors said this page should be displayed for the questions below. (Where do these come from)
If any of these are not a genuine rephrasing of the question, please help out and edit these alternates.
French national holiday?  When is the French holiday?  Why is Bastille Day important?  Why is the bastille important?  Why is bastille day celebrated?  Imformation on a french holiday?  Bastille French National holiday?  How do you say holiday in french?  What is a important french holiday?  Why is Bastille Day so significant?  What is a traditional french holiday?  What was significant about the bastille?  Why is the French National Day important?  What dates are significant to the french?  Why is the french national day celebrated?  What do the French celebrate on Bastille Day?  The french national day is important because?  Why was the storming of the Bastille important?  When is Bastille Day and why is it so significant?  What are french customs of celebrating the holiday?