Bastille Day, known by some as the French 4th of July, was born out of a time when France was ruled by a corrupt and powerful monarchy in the late 1700's.

France was in deep financial debt and politically unstable as the rising middle class - the bourgeoisie - and the nobility were putting pressure on King Louis XVI in order to gain more political power for themselves.

Determined to protect the "Old Regime", as it was called, Louis XVI relied on the power and support of the Roman church to justify the right of Kings to rule as tyrants.

Though the peasants made up nearly 80% of the population in France's feudal system that rewarded her landowners, they owned only 30% of the land, but bore the heaviest load of taxation. And with the country's religious freedoms being questioned as well, civil unrest was being bred to lay the foundation for the French Revolution.

In an effort to stabilize France's weakening financial position, Louis XVI proposed a tax to be paid by all landowners, including the nobles. Balking at such a notion, the nobles insisted instead that the King call into session the Estates-General, the body which represented the three estates or classes of France.

However, in doing so, King Louis XVI knew that his authority would be called into question as well and resisted until it was apparent that he had no choice. But, in forcing the King to summons the Estates-General, the nobles had, in effect, begun the French Revolution - they had revolted against the King by forcing him to call the session.

It was in May 1789 that the Estates-General met at the palace of Versailles. Rather than solve any issues however, the assembly found itself deadlocked as the nobility and the bourgeoisie became embroiled in a struggle for power.

With the help of a few priests joining the bourgeoisie, the balance of power shifted, giving the middle class or the Third Estate as it was called, the ability to form another assembly to represent all the people of France, "The National Assembly."

It was King Louis XVI's wife, Marie Antoinette, who threw the final log on the brewing fire when she suggested that the National Assembly was threatening the dignity and authority of the King. And so, at the end of June, 1789, the King summoned troops to Versailles in an effort to disband the Assembly.

However, by this time, the revolution had gained such momentum that it had evolved into a mass revolution, including not only the burgeoning

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