The French Revolution 1789
The French Revolution 1789
Louis XIV left a huge debt for France. After him came Louis XV who brought some peace but could not stop the debt from building up. He ruled for 59 years in a very lazy manner and lost the support of his people. He kept borrowing more leading to higher interest rates and also refused to economize accordingly to avert crises.
Then came Louis XVI who married Marie Antoinette of Austria. She was made a general target by the public because of the deteriorating relations with Austria due to the alliance during the 7 years’ war as well as for getting herself involved in politics unwisely. At this point, the king realized he needed money for which he looked to tax the first and the second estate. However, people would always refuse and riot which always forced him to go back on his decisions. This led to the meeting of the Estates General in 1787 which would convene to provide approval for taxing the wealthy i.e. the first two estates.
There were quite a few problems France was going through at the time including: the national debt that had constantly been building up, inflation, a poor harvest which then led to the food becoming extremely expensive.
The Estates general had not been called for the past 175 years. At this point the people/ representatives coming in for the meeting did not know their roles. Were they here as advisers or lawmakers? There was a general excitement for change whilst at the same time the Enlightenment ideas had been going around as people had started reading Montesquieu and Voltaire’s work. Usually, each estate had one vote which meant that the first two estates with similar interests, could easily outvote the third estate. This is why the third estate then demanded individual voting. Cahiers (a list of complaints from the people of France) had also been written.
20th June 1789
Oath of the Tennis Court
Representatives of the third estate declare themselves the national assembly
14th July 1789
Storming of the Bastille
Louis XIV left a huge debt for France. After him came Louis XV who brought some peace but could not stop the debt from building up. He ruled for 59 years in a very lazy manner and lost the support of his people. He kept borrowing more leading to higher interest rates and also refused to economize accordingly to avert crises.
Then came Louis XVI who married Marie Antoinette of Austria. She was made a general target by the public because of the deteriorating relations with Austria due to the alliance during the 7 years’ war as well as for getting herself involved in politics unwisely. At this point, the king realized he needed money for which he looked to tax the first and the second estate. However, people would always refuse and riot which always forced him to go back on his decisions. This led to the meeting of the Estates General in 1787 which would convene to provide approval for taxing the wealthy i.e. the first two estates.
There were quite a few problems France was going through at the time including: the national debt that had constantly been building up, inflation, a poor harvest which then led to the food becoming extremely expensive.
The Estates general had not been called for the past 175 years. At this point the people/ representatives coming in for the meeting did not know their roles. Were they here as advisers or lawmakers? There was a general excitement for change whilst at the same time the Enlightenment ideas had been going around as people had started reading Montesquieu and Voltaire’s work. Usually, each estate had one vote which meant that the first two estates with similar interests, could easily outvote the third estate. This is why the third estate then demanded individual voting. Cahiers (a list of complaints from the people of France) had also been written.
20th June 1789
Oath of the Tennis Court
Representatives of the third estate declare themselves the national assembly
14th July 1789
Storming of the Bastille