The Efffects Of Louis 16Th On France

Essay, Research Paper

The French Revolution was a significant milestone in European history,

remembered by many in historical and literary works. The situation in France, mostly

under the leadership of Louis XVI, had a negative influence in France, thus creating a

perfect climate for the French Revolution. France was plagued by both debt, and poor

decision making. prior to 1789.

France was poverty-stricken and burdened with some of the highest debts. On the

and Interior Minister Chretien Guillaume de Lamoignon de Malesherbes (*The economic

origins of the French revolution, pg. 4). Louis introduced some of the most oppressive

taxes and instituted financial reforms. Greater reforms were prevented by the opposition

of the upper classes and court. This opposition was so strong that Turgot was forced to

resign and was replaced by Jauques Necker. Lengthy wars, the support to the American

Revolution and the gross amount of taxes paid and the lavish spending of the court

contributed to the huge national debt. The government.s financial problems were made

worse after 1740 by the renewal of costly wars (the French revolution, pg. 9). The war of

the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and the Seven Year.s War (1756-1763) were

European wars over the domination of central Europe and colonial and commercial wars

between France and Great Britain (*Aspects of the French Revolution pg. ). At their

end, in 1763 France had lost almost all of it.s colonial empire in America and India. In

1778 the French launched an attack against Britain in the American Revolution. They

were hoping to weaken old rivalries and regain lost colonies. The hopes of the French

were not realized and their participation in the war increased an already heavy national

debt. After Louis XVI granted financial aid (1778-81) to the American colonies

revolting against Great Britain, Necker proposed drastic taxes on the nobility. Necker

was forced to resign in 1781 (Louis XVI and M. Antoinette ..pg 37) because of the

discontentment of the people. Charles Alexandre deCalonne replaced him in 1783 and

borrowed money for the court until the borrowing limit was reached (* Canadian

Encyclopedia ref: france, revolution ). The anger of the French people against taxes,

debt and lavish spending on the Court resulted in the recall of Necker in 1788, who still

could not prevent bankruptcy of the government. During the next couple of years the

financial crisis steadily worsened, because the government was bankrupt. Louis was

forced to call a meeting with a delegate of the Estates-General, ( a government group

consisting of representatives of the clergy, nobility and commoners). Once in the

meeting the Estates-General took power of the government. One of the other causes of

the national debt was at the fault of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Louis XVI was

described as not overly intelligent, weak and incapable king (* Encarta, ref: Louis XVI).

But he was intelligent enough to get money from the government. It was well known

that Louis was more concerned with his own personal affairs than with the interests of

the court and the people. Often work bored him and he left his work up to his advisors

an ministers. He preferred to spend a lot time and the people.s money on extravagant

things, and his wife. Rather than paying back previous debts and helping the situation,

he increased taxes on the peasants and spent more money, worsening the predicament.

By 1787, the national debt was 112,000,000 livres (* the French Revolution, Albert…

pg. 25) and continued to get worse, sharpening the national debt even more.

In the time leading up into and during the French Revolution there was class

tensions, often between the nobility and the peasants. There were also poor living

conditions. Some say that these situations are not Louis XVI.s fault but were problems

he inherited with the throne. So he cannot be blamed for the events leading into the

French Revolution. In this time period there were class tensions. The nobles had all the

privileges and rights. The peasants were stepped on from every angle. So what made

the nobles so desirable. There was glamour, distinction and recognition that the noble

statues brought. They had a range of privileges that they received. Nobles took

precedence on public occasions, and carried swords. (the French Revolution, sydenham,

..pg 61)They were entitled to a trial at a special courts. They also enjoyed financial

advantages. They paid no duties on transferring feudal property and nobility conferred

exemption from the basic tax, le taille (* Oxford, pg. 27) The wealthy consisted of the

nobles, clergy and the bourgeoisie and there was approximately 120,000 wealthy. The

peasants and commoners (middle and lower class) however were on the bottom and

consisted of eighty percent of the population. They struggled to survive and were heavily

taxed. The workers of France ate

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