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France's Deficit Spending
France's deficit spending gets out of hand and France's debt continues to rise. The King, Clergy, and the Nobility are living ni wealth while the 3rd estate is living off of bread that is worth a month's pay. The peasants are also the only ones who have to pay the backbreaking taxes that the king is making them pay. King Louis XVI hired Jacques Necker as a financial expert. Jacques urged the kings to cut court spending, reform government, and abolish burdensome tariffs on internal trade. -
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King Louis XVI's Reign
King Louis ruled absolutly and was later overthrown and executed by his people -
Bad Harvests
The consecutive line of bad harvests sends bread prices high and brings hunger to peasants and city dwellers. -
Louis XVI Calls the Estates-General
France was on the verge of bankruptcy. Bread riots were spreading, and nobles, fearful of taxes, were denouncing royal tyranny. Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General. -
The Tennis Court Oath
After a few days of meeting they found their meeting hall locked and guarded. They moved to a nearby tennis court and took their famous Tennis Court Oath. They swore never to seperate and to meet wherever the circumstances might require until they have established a sound and just constitution. -
Storming the Bastille
During the economic crisis in France the French Militia and peasants stormed the Bastille which was the symbol of power for the king. Baring the tri-color flag of blue, white, and red they stormed the Bastille and tore it down brick by brick with their hands. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
The National Assembly issued this document stating that all men have the natural born rights to freedom and equality. They also have the rights to liberty, property, security, and resistance to opression. -
Women March on Versailles
Six thousand women marched 13 miles in the rain from Paris to Versailles. They wanted to see the king. Most of their anger was directed to Marie Antoinette for her life in luxury and amusement. -
The Guillotine
The Guillotine was invented by Joseph-Ingnace Guillotine. It was used to behead thousands of criminals and theives. -
Robespierre was Arrested
The Terror consumed those who initiated it. Weary of Bloodshed and fearing there own lives, the people of the convention turned on the Commitee of Public Safety. Robespierre was arrested. -
Robespierre is Executed
Robespierre tried to commit suicide but only managed to shatter his lower jaw and he survived. He was held in the same prison where Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were held before their execution. He was later executed without trial.
