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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a social, political, intellectual, and cultural movement. It sparked new ideas throughout Europe. These ideas spread to the French soldiers during the American Revolution. -
Marriage To Marie-Antoinette
At age, 15 King Louis XVI married Marie-Antoinettethe Archduchess of Austria. Their marriage was used to form alliances between Austria, France's longstanding enemy. This became quite controversial and rises tensions with commoners. -
Louis XVI
Louis XVI took to the the throne early due to to his grandfather's untimely death. King Louis XVI became a very immature and unwise ruler. He gambled his money and didn't pay close enough attention to his kingdom's grievances. -
American Revolution
The French sent troops to aid in the American Revolution plunging France's financials into even more overwhelming debt. -
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It identified the the thirteen colonies as newly independent sovereign states. This would later inspire the French. -
Rise In Taxes
King Louis XVI inherited the kingdom at great cost. The debt surrounding the kingdom at the end of the American Revolution bankrupted the country. He had no choice but to rise taxes to pay off the debt. The 2nd estate who occupied most of the government refused to pay taxes. As a result, this put the brunt of the heavy taxation on peasants. -
Meeting of the Estates-General
King Louis called a meeting between the Estates for the first time in 175 years. During which meeting the Third Estates delegates named themselves the National Assembly. They also wrote the Declarations of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. -
Tennis Court Oath
In an effort to control the Third Estate of their 'radical ' ideas, King Louis XVI locked them out of their meeting room. They found the next available room, an empty tennis court. There they wrote a new constitution for France. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was believed to hold gunpowder essential to the rebellion. A large armed mob gathered at the Bastille and overpowered the guards. They eventually captured the Bastille and started the French Revolution.
