InNo+caroline.norgreen+08.27.10


 * THE GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE & FINANCIAL PROBLEMS**

King Louis XVI Marie Antoinette

[|event chart on how the french revolution began.doc]

Notes -

**The Government Of France**


 * Royalty **


 * Governed by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
 * Louis was an absolute monarch
 * Slowly became less popular in France


 * Marie Antoinette **


 * France dislikes Marie because
 * She was foreign
 * Spent too much money on unnecessary things
 * Unfaithful to Louis
 * She got Petit Trianon
 * Made it look like a run down village
 * She spent too much money on it instead of helping real people
 * Advisors even thought she should help locals instead
 * “[She’s] seems to be making a game out of their situation”


 * Use and Abuse of Power **


 * People dislike the government
 * Thought king had too much power
 * Dislike “sealed letters”
 * King could put anyone’s name on the page
 * They would be imprisoned/exile as long as he wish
 * King’s ministers could use it too
 * Roughly 14,000 were issued during his reign
 * King could do whatever he wants whenever he want
 * Louis was a “despot” (dictator/tyrant)

**Financial Problems**


 * The Royal Debt **


 * Government had been in debt for 100 years
 * 1786 – close to financial collapse
 * Had to choose between:
 * **Increase tax**
 * Reduce spending
 * Borrow money


 * An Attempt at Reform **


 * Wanted to introduce land tax
 * Nobles and clergy would do everything to not pay
 * Invited 150 nobles and clergymen (all loyal supporters)
 * “Assembly of Notables” rejected the new tax law
 * Did not have enough power
 * Only Estates General could approve
 * Louis tried to introduce it to the Paris Parliament
 * They also reject it – did not have enough power
 * Told him --> general estates
 * Louis exiled the Parliament
 * People rebelled
 * Sometimes violent protests
 * “Day of Tiles” – 4 people died
 * Protestors attacked soldiers with tiles from rooftops

**Summary** In this reading, it focused mainly on the Royal Family, and problems associated with it. It spoke of Marie Antoinette's abuse of money and power to create her little village, and also focused on King Louis XVI's use of power, by being able to send anyone to jail or exile. Louis became known as more of a dictator overtime, and because the Royal family spent so much money on personal things they started using a lot more money than they had. Financial problems then became a serious issue for Louis, who ended up exiling all the Paris Parliament because they would not agree to the land tax, which was in turn the cause of so many rebellions in France.

Why did Louis not just raise the tax a couple of % and then just live a more relaxed "lower" class style life? Why couldn't Louis just ask the General Estates for permission? What did commoners think of the Paris Parliament?
 * Questions **

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