The event symbolized by the storming of the Bastille is the beginning of the French Revolution, which took place on July 14, 1789. The Bastille was a fortress and prison in Paris that represented the tyranny of the Bourbon monarchy. Its storming marked a significant shift in power, as revolutionaries sought to overthrow oppressive rule and demand democratic governance. The event is celebrated annually as Bastille Day, symbolizing the fight for liberty and the birth of a new political order in France. It galvanized the revolutionaries and initiated widespread societal changes.