Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette

Louis XVI (August 23, 1754 – January 21, 1793) Name: Louis Capet Birthplace: Versailles Religion: Roman Catholic Leadership: 1774-1791 Spouse: Marie Antoinette

Louis XVI (August 23, 1754 – January 21, 1793) Took the throne at the age of 20 4 children Enjoyed lock making, hunting & fishing Shy, dull, corpulent & VERY indecisive 3

Louis’ Successes… Liberated French serfs Emancipated French Protestants Banned the use of torture Did away with the oppressive “Jewish” tax Reformed health care & education 4

Louis’ Failures… Lived an EXTRAVAGANT lifestyle Could not say “NO” to Marie Politically indecisive Did NOT want to be king 5

Marie Antoinette (November 2, 1755 – October 16, 1793) Name: Marie Antoinette Josephe Jeanne de Hapsbourg-Lorraine Birthplace: Vienna Religion: Roman Catholic Leadership: 1774-1791 Spouse: Louis XVI 6

Marie Antoinette (November 2, 1755 – October 16, 1793) 15th child of Maria Theresa (Queen of Hungary) & Francis I (Holy Roman Emperor) Enjoyed music & gambling Devoted mother In one year she ordered 90+ dresses…SHOPAHOLIC! 7

The Beginning of the French Revolution From Estates-General to National Assembly

Causes of Revolution Enlightenment ideas American Revolution Extravagant royal court Old Regime Privileges of 1st & 2nd estate Financial crisis – impending bankruptcy

The Extravagant Royal Court of… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKlIHvOFTOk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESUzbLWuzY8 Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI

French Financial Crisis Debt from wars Extravagance (Versailles) Aided American Revolution Banks refuse to lend money Crop Failure

French Financial Crisis France Needed Money!!!! Louis XVI called The Estates General - hoping to agree on new taxes to be applied to the First & Second Estates

Estates-General 1789 Had not met since 1614 Delegates of the 3rd Estate wanted a joint meeting of all Estates with each delegate voting as an individual King refused – locked out 3rd Estate

National Assembly & Tennis Court Oath 3rd Estate delegates met & created the National Assembly…

National Assembly & Tennis Court Oath Met on indoor tennis court & took the Tennis Court Oath - promised not to disband until they had written a constitution for France

Call to Revolt King ordered other estates to join the National Assembly, BUT called for troops in Paris Debates raged in streets, sometimes violent

Call to Revolt Rebellion grew – sans culottes joined King gathered more troops Paris citizens became fearful that the King would dissolve the National Assembly & halt reforms so...

Storming the Bastille Bastille (Paris prison); symbolized injustices of the monarchy Huge mob surrounded Bastille & attempted to steal weapons to defend the National Assembly Forced way into prison; freed prisoners

Storming the Bastille Soldiers opened fire 98 rioters killed Rioters took over prison

Liberated prisoners parading later in the day

The Great Fear After Bastille, wave of violence swept France Rumors that nobles hired robbers to kill peasants & take property

The Great Fear Peasants react; arm themselves Swear to never pay feudal dues again Drive off landlords & destroyed records The First Wave of the French Revolution had struck!