Tlie Fall Of The Monarchy Case Study
Question: To what extent was Louis XVI personally responsible for tlie fall of the monarchy in 1792 ?
“ What is the Third Estate? Everything.
What has it been in the political order? Nothing,
What does it want to be? Something.”
This slogan published by Abbe Sieyes in January 1789, provides an overview of the grievances of the ‘third estate’ thatled to the outbreak of the French Revolution. Although France in 1785 faced economic difficulties, mostly concerning the equitability of taxation, it was one of the richest and most powerful nations of Europe. However, as time passed the failure of Louis XVI and his minsters to encourage reform as well as economic unrest, unequal division of power, unfair system of taxation and the incompetence of …show more content…
It was debt that led to the long-running fiscal crisis of the French government. On the eve of the revolution, France was effectively bankrupt. Heavy expenditures to facilitate France’s involvement in the Seven Years’ War against Britain [1756-1763) drained the royal treasury. France’s backing of the Americans in their War of Independence ran the tab up even further. These problems were all compounded by a great scarcity of food in the 1780s. A series of crop failures caused a shortage of grain, consequently raising the pi ice of bread. As bread was the main source of nutrition for poor peasants, this led to starvation. The two years prior to the outbreak of the revolulkni (‘1788-1789) saw meager harvests and harsh winters because of a strong El Nino cycle caused by the 1783 Laki eruption in Iceland.The price of bread soared and overall prices continued to rise at a quicker rate than wages. The urban workers who consisted of all journeymen, factory workers and wage earners also faced bleak poverty. By 1789 wages had increased by 22% whereas cost of living was increased by …show more content…
Several ministers, most notably Turgot and Necker, proposed revisions to the French tax system so as to include the nobles as taxpayers, but these proposals were not adopted. The last finance minster appointed by Louis XVI was Charles Alexandre de Calonne. However, by the time Calonne brought together the Assembly of Notables on 22 February 1787 to address the financial situation, France had reached a state of virtual bankruptcy; no one would lend the king money sufficient to meet the expenses of the royal court and the
“ What is the Third Estate? Everything.
What has it been in the political order? Nothing,
What does it want to be? Something.”
This slogan published by Abbe Sieyes in January 1789, provides an overview of the grievances of the ‘third estate’ thatled to the outbreak of the French Revolution. Although France in 1785 faced economic difficulties, mostly concerning the equitability of taxation, it was one of the richest and most powerful nations of Europe. However, as time passed the failure of Louis XVI and his minsters to encourage reform as well as economic unrest, unequal division of power, unfair system of taxation and the incompetence of …show more content…
It was debt that led to the long-running fiscal crisis of the French government. On the eve of the revolution, France was effectively bankrupt. Heavy expenditures to facilitate France’s involvement in the Seven Years’ War against Britain [1756-1763) drained the royal treasury. France’s backing of the Americans in their War of Independence ran the tab up even further. These problems were all compounded by a great scarcity of food in the 1780s. A series of crop failures caused a shortage of grain, consequently raising the pi ice of bread. As bread was the main source of nutrition for poor peasants, this led to starvation. The two years prior to the outbreak of the revolulkni (‘1788-1789) saw meager harvests and harsh winters because of a strong El Nino cycle caused by the 1783 Laki eruption in Iceland.The price of bread soared and overall prices continued to rise at a quicker rate than wages. The urban workers who consisted of all journeymen, factory workers and wage earners also faced bleak poverty. By 1789 wages had increased by 22% whereas cost of living was increased by …show more content…
Several ministers, most notably Turgot and Necker, proposed revisions to the French tax system so as to include the nobles as taxpayers, but these proposals were not adopted. The last finance minster appointed by Louis XVI was Charles Alexandre de Calonne. However, by the time Calonne brought together the Assembly of Notables on 22 February 1787 to address the financial situation, France had reached a state of virtual bankruptcy; no one would lend the king money sufficient to meet the expenses of the royal court and the