Could King Louis XVI Have Prevented Or Halted The Process Of The Revolution
Could King Louis XVI have prevented or halted the process of the revolution? [20]
The Ancien Regime is a term used to describe the French system of rule before the 1789 revolution. Problems such as finance, politics, the inequality of the 3 estates, the taxation system and King Louis’ overall decision making during the run up to the revolution all led to the downfall of the Ancien Regime, which Louis could have prevented entirely, or at least halted it especially in the events of the August Decrees, and the flight to Varennes.
Financial problems previous to 1789 arose due to the wars that France had been involved with; the Seven Years’ War and the American War of Independence. The French had supplied America with a substantial amount of loans, which had put the French government on the verge of bankruptcy and they had weakened the already detrimental financial situation of the Crown. Financial problems also came from the taxation system involving direct and indirect taxes, tax farming and venality. Louis could have prevented this long term cause when Turgot had presented tax reforms which had been blocked by the parlements. Using his divine right and absolute monarchy, he could have convinced the parlements to overlook the reforms and agree to give some if not all the reforms suggested.
When Louis’ later on suggested reforms to the Parlements of Paris and the Assembly of Notables, both had rejected his ideas. Handling the rejection of the reforms badly had led Louis’ into exiling the Parlements, making the 1st Estate outraged. This then led to the Aristocratic Revolt involving the 1st Estate- the ones most loyal to the King. This was one of the most violent revolts the King had seen, even forcing him to recall the Parlements from exile and led to the calling of the Estate-General. These events had shown that Louis himself was not an absolute monarch, as his ideas of reforms were rejected by the Parlements. Although Louis did in fact use his power as an
The Ancien Regime is a term used to describe the French system of rule before the 1789 revolution. Problems such as finance, politics, the inequality of the 3 estates, the taxation system and King Louis’ overall decision making during the run up to the revolution all led to the downfall of the Ancien Regime, which Louis could have prevented entirely, or at least halted it especially in the events of the August Decrees, and the flight to Varennes.
Financial problems previous to 1789 arose due to the wars that France had been involved with; the Seven Years’ War and the American War of Independence. The French had supplied America with a substantial amount of loans, which had put the French government on the verge of bankruptcy and they had weakened the already detrimental financial situation of the Crown. Financial problems also came from the taxation system involving direct and indirect taxes, tax farming and venality. Louis could have prevented this long term cause when Turgot had presented tax reforms which had been blocked by the parlements. Using his divine right and absolute monarchy, he could have convinced the parlements to overlook the reforms and agree to give some if not all the reforms suggested.
When Louis’ later on suggested reforms to the Parlements of Paris and the Assembly of Notables, both had rejected his ideas. Handling the rejection of the reforms badly had led Louis’ into exiling the Parlements, making the 1st Estate outraged. This then led to the Aristocratic Revolt involving the 1st Estate- the ones most loyal to the King. This was one of the most violent revolts the King had seen, even forcing him to recall the Parlements from exile and led to the calling of the Estate-General. These events had shown that Louis himself was not an absolute monarch, as his ideas of reforms were rejected by the Parlements. Although Louis did in fact use his power as an