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The storming of the Bastille in Paris, France on July 14, 1789 is recognized as one of the predominate steps in the spread of democracy in the western world. Numerous factors contributed to the sequence of events that lead to this historic event. One of the most significant was the weather. During France’s growing season (April to July) in 1788, a ridge of high pressure prevailed throughout the region. As determined by extensive records kept by the Paris Astronomical Observatory, the air remained dry and hot, and the soil quickly became unsuitable for vegetation. In addition, the French peasants were ill-equipped for farming even under the best of circumstances. One historian noted that the "implements were hardly superior to those employed during the Middle Ages". On