How Did Louis Xvi Cause The French Revolution

As Malcolm Gladwell wrote in The Tipping Point, “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.” Symbolised by the Tennis Court Oath and the Storming of the Bastille, the outbreak of the French Revolution was caused by a buildup of many factors, finally causing the anger and frustration manifested in the French people to reach the tipping point as they took to the streets. This led to social and political upheaval, especially in Paris. Through examining Louis XVI’s inability to rule, the spread of Enlightenment ideas and the social structure of the Kingdom of France, this essay argues that the Enlightenment Ideas were the main cause for the outbreak of the
He had been raised as the Dauphin of France since 1765 and was determined to be a good king. However, he did not have the qualities of a leader. Lacking in self-confidence and firmness, he was easily influenced. After France’s involvement in the American Revolution, she was in a major economic and financial crisis. Jacques Necker was called back to the office of Director-General of Finance. During his second term as Finance Director-General, Necker pushed many policies which helped the people of the Third-Estate, such as protectionist measures on the grain market. Necker also played a big role in the reconvention the Estates-General of 1789, the first since 1614. He advocated doubling the representation of the Third-Estate, which was had little say in state matters considering that they made out 98% of the population. He was thus seen as a hero by the peasants, a minister who would stand up for their rights and livelihood. Having been sympathetic towards the Third-Estate and reconstructed the ministry, conservative nobles of King Louis XVI’s privy council did not favour Necker, and influenced the King to dismiss him on 11 July 1789. In another case, when the Third Estate failed to reconcile the three Estates to settle the powers of the three orders, the Communes declared themselves renamed as the National Assembly, and intended to conduct the nation’s affairs with or without the other estates. Under influence
The Kingdom of France was 98% peasants, and 2% nobles and clergy. However, the upperclass had significant influence in the ruling of the nation, thus resulting in many state policies being in favour of them. Peasants were required to pay the tithe, taille, vingtème and the capitation. Further royal and seigneurial obligations also have to be paid. These taxes were burdensome in good times and devastating in harsh times. However, the nobles and clergy were exempted from taxes, with the exception of two modest taxes, placing the tax burden on the already poor peasants, wage-earners and the educated and cultured Bourgeoisie, together comprising the third estate. Nobles also had further privileges in the military, gained through family links, whereas the peasants could not even have insignificant posts in the government. This unfair social structure and government system caused great resentment among the third estate. This resentment had been portrayed in newspapers and plays like The Marriage of Figaro (1784) in which there was a line: “What have you (nobles) done to deserve so much? You just went through the trouble of being born - nothing more”. The food crisis of 1788 exacerbated the discontent. In summer, storms and floods caused harvest to fall in seigneurial dues and defaults on leases. The freezing weather and flooding during the winter also caused bad harvests, forcing the price of bread