King Louis the XVI
When France changed its political system from the Old Regime to democracy, the king who is the last monarch of France was overthrown; his name was King Louis the XVI. This event is called the French Revolution. Louis was born in the Palace of Versailles on August 23, 1754. Louis the XVI was the grandson of current king, King Louis XV, but he received the throne because his father passed away due to an illness. Another reason is because his older brother who is the next heir to the throne after their father also died. Following up the step of succession, he was made the king of France. Although it was the duty of the king to learn political sciences, he was interested in other things like hunting and locksmith. Even his grandfather paid less attention to Louis’s studies.
By trying to cement the relationships between France and Austria, when Louis was 15 years of age, he married the daughter of Maria Theresa, Marie Antoinette. This was not a marriage born out of love but a so called political marriage. There were many rumors that Louis the XVI is impotent and would never be able to sire any children. One of the most important goals of the monarchy is to secure an heir to the throne, if they were to fail, the power of that family may fall.
France was experiencing economic and military problems when Louis XV died. Therefore, the 20 years old Louis the XVI needed to ascend the throne. As England is the chief enemy of France, Louis the XVI tried to create a strong navy that could destroy the English’s fleet. The king tried to decrease England’s power by sending soldiers and warships to help the American colonists gain independence from England. Another problem rise in France, they were experiencing severe debt because of financing the war to help the colonists. They were also having problems with food because the crops were not growing which drastically increase the price of flour and bread. Then in 1788, the king called the Estates—General, which is when the three estates meets together to try to solve the ongoing problems.
The king seeks advice from the economist and finance minister which reply that the king should taxed all estates. This idea caused the nobles to become very angry and call the king a fool. The king doesn’t want to anger the nobles so he abandoned the reformation and kick the advisors out from the court. At that time, he didn’t know that instead of the nobles, he angered the people. As the new finance minister that was hired by king Louis the XVI, he tried to find money by getting a loan from other country. Even though it seems that it will work, but in contrast it has a negative effect which increase France’s debt even more. Then in the fifth month of May in the year of 1789, the king tried to solve the problem by calling another Estates—General. The people of the third estate knew that even when they go there, they would still lose the vote so they have their own meeting in the tennis court. This Oath was later named the Tennis Court Oath. After they have formed a new National Assembly in July the ninth, the people of the third estates stormed the political prison which was called the storming of Bastille.
King Louis the XVI signed the paper that will limit his power as an absolute monarch. He was forced to move out from the Palace of Versailles. In their attempt to flee from Paris to Austria, they were caught and taken back to Paris where they were executed. They were executed by a guillotine and which makes this the beginning of a new age.
When France changed its political system from the Old Regime to democracy, the king who is the last monarch of France was overthrown; his name was King Louis the XVI. This event is called the French Revolution. Louis was born in the Palace of Versailles on August 23, 1754. Louis the XVI was the grandson of current king, King Louis XV, but he received the throne because his father passed away due to an illness. Another reason is because his older brother who is the next heir to the throne after their father also died. Following up the step of succession, he was made the king of France. Although it was the duty of the king to learn political sciences, he was interested in other things like hunting and locksmith. Even his grandfather paid less attention to Louis’s studies.
By trying to cement the relationships between France and Austria, when Louis was 15 years of age, he married the daughter of Maria Theresa, Marie Antoinette. This was not a marriage born out of love but a so called political marriage. There were many rumors that Louis the XVI is impotent and would never be able to sire any children. One of the most important goals of the monarchy is to secure an heir to the throne, if they were to fail, the power of that family may fall.
France was experiencing economic and military problems when Louis XV died. Therefore, the 20 years old Louis the XVI needed to ascend the throne. As England is the chief enemy of France, Louis the XVI tried to create a strong navy that could destroy the English’s fleet. The king tried to decrease England’s power by sending soldiers and warships to help the American colonists gain independence from England. Another problem rise in France, they were experiencing severe debt because of financing the war to help the colonists. They were also having problems with food because the crops were not growing which drastically increase the price of flour and bread. Then in 1788, the king called the Estates—General, which is when the three estates meets together to try to solve the ongoing problems.
The king seeks advice from the economist and finance minister which reply that the king should taxed all estates. This idea caused the nobles to become very angry and call the king a fool. The king doesn’t want to anger the nobles so he abandoned the reformation and kick the advisors out from the court. At that time, he didn’t know that instead of the nobles, he angered the people. As the new finance minister that was hired by king Louis the XVI, he tried to find money by getting a loan from other country. Even though it seems that it will work, but in contrast it has a negative effect which increase France’s debt even more. Then in the fifth month of May in the year of 1789, the king tried to solve the problem by calling another Estates—General. The people of the third estate knew that even when they go there, they would still lose the vote so they have their own meeting in the tennis court. This Oath was later named the Tennis Court Oath. After they have formed a new National Assembly in July the ninth, the people of the third estates stormed the political prison which was called the storming of Bastille.
King Louis the XVI signed the paper that will limit his power as an absolute monarch. He was forced to move out from the Palace of Versailles. In their attempt to flee from Paris to Austria, they were caught and taken back to Paris where they were executed. They were executed by a guillotine and which makes this the beginning of a new age.
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is the daughter of Maria Theresa and the Holy Roman Emperor Francis I. Marie Antoinette who will later be the last queen of France birth name was Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna. She received education focused on religious and moral principles. After the end of the Seven Year’s War, Maria Theresa tried her best to maintain the brittle alliance between Austria and France. To make the alliance concrete, Maria Theresa sent her daughter, Marie Antoinette, to marry the heir to the French throne, Louis-Auguste. Louis the XV tried to instruct Marie but the tutor found out that Marie is exemplary in her studies but is very lazy and hard to teach. In the fifth month of 1770, Marie was sent to France to be married. Then on the 16th day of May, she was married to Louis-Auguste. Because she was very young at the time, she did not adjust well to the palace life. Deducting from the things she wrote when she send the letter home, she was suffering from severe homesickness. She once stated that she needs to put makeup and show herself to the courts and peoples.
When Marie Antoinette comes to the age of 19, Louis XV died which was succeeded by Louis-Auguste, which in turn making Marie the queen of France. Even though they are married together, they both have very different personalities. When Maria Theresa received the news that her daughter and Louis XVI had not yet consummated the marriage, she told Marie’s older brother to go to France and act as a marriage counselor. After a year, Maria Theresa Charlotte was born.
Marie Antoinette lives on her private castle inside the Palace of Versailles name Petit Trianon. There was a rumor that Marie was committing adultery with the Swedish diplomat, Count Axel von Fersen. It is about the year of 1780 where French economy is going down the drain. There were poor harvest and financial turmoil throughout the country. Marie’s extravagant lifestyle became the target of people’s anger. There are many pamphlets published that stated that she were the queen of ignorance and extravagance. She was also nickname “Madame Deficit.” By the year of 1785, Maria was accused of smuggling a diamond necklace and sells it in pieces in London. Even though she was innocent, the people view her as a criminal. She starts building the Hameau de la Reine, a retreat near the Petit Trianon.
The French Revolution begins when the 900 workers and peasants in France take over the Bastille prison and take up arms. On that same year, about 10,000 people gathered and demanded that the king and queen be brought to Paris. In the palace, Louis was stunned by the news and was unable to do anything, so Maria stepped in. She met up with other European rulers and begged them to help her and Louis. Maria and Count Axel von Fersen make a plot which would allow the royal family to escape France. But the plan failed and they were capture. Louis was allowed to keep his symbolic power if he consents to the new constitution. In 1792, when the war of France with Austria and Prussia was very intense, a Jacobin leader Maximilien de Robespierre asked that the king to be removed. Then they arrested the king and queen then established the French Republic.
In the month of January in the year of 1793, King Louis XVI was convicted of treason and was sentenced to death. He was put on guillotine and executed. Several months later, Marie was also put on trial. She was charged with treason, theft, and even sexual abuse to her son. As expected, she was found guilty in every single charge. Then, in that same month, she was also executed like her husband. Before she died, she sent a letter to her sister in law, Elisabeth.
“I am calm, as people are whose conscience is clear.”
Marie Antoinette is the daughter of Maria Theresa and the Holy Roman Emperor Francis I. Marie Antoinette who will later be the last queen of France birth name was Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna. She received education focused on religious and moral principles. After the end of the Seven Year’s War, Maria Theresa tried her best to maintain the brittle alliance between Austria and France. To make the alliance concrete, Maria Theresa sent her daughter, Marie Antoinette, to marry the heir to the French throne, Louis-Auguste. Louis the XV tried to instruct Marie but the tutor found out that Marie is exemplary in her studies but is very lazy and hard to teach. In the fifth month of 1770, Marie was sent to France to be married. Then on the 16th day of May, she was married to Louis-Auguste. Because she was very young at the time, she did not adjust well to the palace life. Deducting from the things she wrote when she send the letter home, she was suffering from severe homesickness. She once stated that she needs to put makeup and show herself to the courts and peoples.
When Marie Antoinette comes to the age of 19, Louis XV died which was succeeded by Louis-Auguste, which in turn making Marie the queen of France. Even though they are married together, they both have very different personalities. When Maria Theresa received the news that her daughter and Louis XVI had not yet consummated the marriage, she told Marie’s older brother to go to France and act as a marriage counselor. After a year, Maria Theresa Charlotte was born.
Marie Antoinette lives on her private castle inside the Palace of Versailles name Petit Trianon. There was a rumor that Marie was committing adultery with the Swedish diplomat, Count Axel von Fersen. It is about the year of 1780 where French economy is going down the drain. There were poor harvest and financial turmoil throughout the country. Marie’s extravagant lifestyle became the target of people’s anger. There are many pamphlets published that stated that she were the queen of ignorance and extravagance. She was also nickname “Madame Deficit.” By the year of 1785, Maria was accused of smuggling a diamond necklace and sells it in pieces in London. Even though she was innocent, the people view her as a criminal. She starts building the Hameau de la Reine, a retreat near the Petit Trianon.
The French Revolution begins when the 900 workers and peasants in France take over the Bastille prison and take up arms. On that same year, about 10,000 people gathered and demanded that the king and queen be brought to Paris. In the palace, Louis was stunned by the news and was unable to do anything, so Maria stepped in. She met up with other European rulers and begged them to help her and Louis. Maria and Count Axel von Fersen make a plot which would allow the royal family to escape France. But the plan failed and they were capture. Louis was allowed to keep his symbolic power if he consents to the new constitution. In 1792, when the war of France with Austria and Prussia was very intense, a Jacobin leader Maximilien de Robespierre asked that the king to be removed. Then they arrested the king and queen then established the French Republic.
In the month of January in the year of 1793, King Louis XVI was convicted of treason and was sentenced to death. He was put on guillotine and executed. Several months later, Marie was also put on trial. She was charged with treason, theft, and even sexual abuse to her son. As expected, she was found guilty in every single charge. Then, in that same month, she was also executed like her husband. Before she died, she sent a letter to her sister in law, Elisabeth.
“I am calm, as people are whose conscience is clear.”
What I like best about this work....
I like this work because after writing this essay, it would help me easily remember the causes of the French Revolution. It would also help me know more about the state that France was in before their downfall. I also like this project because it help me to analyze the reasons and use my critical thinking skills effectively.
The most significant thing I learned in this activity....
I learned that a country that was once prosperous like France would not always be prosperous. They would be influenced by many factors. I also learned that the behavior and actions of the monarchs during that time will greatly effect the political and economical structure of the country.
If I were to do this work again, I would....
If I were to do this work again, I would like to find more information regarding this topic because I feel that it is not enough to get the information from only the book. I would also like to write more about what happen before the French Revolution and how it occurs.
I would like to learn more....
I would like to learn more about the other factors outside France that have an effect to France's problem. I would also like to know whether there are other country that aids or harm France in any way.
I like this work because after writing this essay, it would help me easily remember the causes of the French Revolution. It would also help me know more about the state that France was in before their downfall. I also like this project because it help me to analyze the reasons and use my critical thinking skills effectively.
The most significant thing I learned in this activity....
I learned that a country that was once prosperous like France would not always be prosperous. They would be influenced by many factors. I also learned that the behavior and actions of the monarchs during that time will greatly effect the political and economical structure of the country.
If I were to do this work again, I would....
If I were to do this work again, I would like to find more information regarding this topic because I feel that it is not enough to get the information from only the book. I would also like to write more about what happen before the French Revolution and how it occurs.
I would like to learn more....
I would like to learn more about the other factors outside France that have an effect to France's problem. I would also like to know whether there are other country that aids or harm France in any way.