The social and economic context of the French Revolution is particularly relevant when it comes to alcohol. Wine was not only a vital part of everyday life, but the taxes levied upon alcoholic beverages were some of the most important during the ancien régime. More revenue came from taxes on alcoholic drinks entering Paris than from all other commodities combined. The tax rate was also very high, with the price of a barrel of wine tripling as it passed through the city’s tollgates. These taxes and the customs barriers of Paris became the focus of the revolt in July 1789.
On July 14, 1789, the Paris mob, hungry due to the lack of food from poor harvests, upset at the conditions of their lives, and annoyed with their King and Government, stormed the Bastille fortress (prison). The Republic of France was declared, and the King was put on trial soon after. The Declaration of Independence with the famous slogan "LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY" called for every person's right to freedom and equal treatment.
Wine, then, was essential to the revolutionary experience for three reasons:
First, it was integral to social interaction and was interwoven into everyday life.
Second, it sparked protests and raised consciousness around the issue of taxation, pushing ordinary citizens to participate in the making of a new fiscal regime.
Lastly, red wine as a consumable came to symbolize liberty, equality, and French republicanism.
La Marseillaise. Wine drinking and popular culture were intertwined in some of the songs created to honor the Revolution. One notable example is a parody of La Marseillaise. The opening line commemorates the attacks on the barriers of July 1789: 'Come, children of la Courtille, the day to drink has arrived.' The well-known refrain is then transformed into: 'To the table, citizens, empty all the bottles: drink, drink a good pure wine which waters our lungs'."
Credit to Noelle Plack's article and the French Encyclopedia.-images found on Google search
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Happy Bastille Day!
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