Notes

Storming of the Bastille
It was clear that Louis XVI wanted to dissolve the National Assembly and there was fear of attack from loyal troops from Parisians.
Economic crisis:
50% of a Parisian's wages were spent on bread in normal times
88% of a Parisian's wages were spent on bread in Spring 1789.
Lower living standards, higher unemployment and rising bread prices led to food riots.
11th July: King had 25000 troops around the Paris-Versailles area. The Gardes-Francaises are ordered to leave Paris but ignore these orders and disperse to join the opponents of the King.
13th July: a barricade is put up around Paris to stop any more royal troops entering the city.
14th July: (led by the Sans-culottes) 250000 Parisians march to an old soldiers' retirement home to seize weapons from Les Invalides. They acquire 28000 muskets and 20 cannons. They then march to the Bastille to seize more weapons. Louis XVI is alerted of the dispersion of Gardes-Francaise and is told he can't rely on them. The crowds reach the inner courtyard of the Bastille and De Launay orders his troops to open fire on them - 98 were killed. Gardes-Francaise help the crowds and in the end, De Launay is forced to surrender, he is murdered and decapitated.
15th July: Louis XVI visits Paris and tells the NCA that he's withdrawing his troops from Paris and Versailles. The electors set up the revolutionary Paris Commune and the citizens' militia establish their own National Guard.
17th July: Louis shares power with the National Constituent Assembly, he recalls Necker and recognises the Paris Commune.

Political crisis: Lawyers and journalists politicise the Paris mobs. Bourgeoisie take advantage of the sans-culottes and tried to Desmoulins makes speeches and dispatches pamphlets at the Palais-Royales. Political opponents of the King try to bring crowds to the streets by harnessing the discontent from the economic crisis and rallying support to save the National Assembly.

Weakness in the King's personality: The King was expected to use force to dissolve the National Assembly and arrest its leading members. Instead, he sacked Necker at the peak of his popularity. News of this reached Paris on July 12th. Parisians saw this as a way of Louis trying to take power back by force so they began to arm themselves and began stealing weapons.

A significant time because:
France was now considered a constitutional monarchy
Louis XVI had to share his power with the National Assembly.