France was basically bankrupt. King Louis XVI gave millions of dollars to the Americans in their fight for independence from England. Marie Antoinette spent money lavishly every day. King Louis XVI tried raising taxes on the Third Estate of France (the commoners )which was 97% of the population. The Third Estate revolted, broke away from the Estates General (the French legislature) and formed its own legislature, the National Assembly. After the storming of the Bastille, the National Assembly took control of the government and dramatically changed the tax structure of France.
Support for the American Revolution put a great strain on the French economy.
During the Seven Year's War France lost most of its overseas treasure to Great Britain. The resulting ecomnomic damage almost destroyed the monarchy. However, some of the economic was repaired in the 1760's by the minister, the duc de Choiseul but Louis XV left his successor, his grandson Louis XVI, a debt of 4000 million livres when he died in 1774. In 1788 the French government went bankrupt.
King Louis was bound to the Ancient Regime which had three Estates within the Estates General. The First Estate was the Catholic Clergy, the Second Estate was the Nobles and the Third Estate was everyone else.
No, he was the king, above all estates.
It could be the Third Estate
By taxing the Third Estate.
Louis XVI (the sixteenth / seize)
Louis XVI, who was beheaded along with his son, the [presumptive] Louis XVII. When the monarchy was restored, Louis XVIII became king.
It depends on the French Revolution in question:French Revolution of 1789-1799: King Louis XVI / replaced with First RepublicJuly Revolution of 1830: King Charles X / replaced with King Louis Philippe IThe June Rebellion of 1832: King Louis Philippe I / survived the revolutionThe French Revolution of 1848: King Louis Philippe I / replaced with Second Republic
The First Estate was the clergy, about 1% of the population. The Second Estate was the nobility, about 2% of the population. The Third Estate was everyone else, about 97% of the population. King Louis XIV, King Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette drained the French Treasury. The French gave too much financial aid to the American Colonists in their fight for independence from England. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette spent lavishly, thinking the Third Estate would foot the bill by paying higher taxes.
Louis XVI was not a good leader and felt it was better not to lose the favor of the two smaller Estates. He denied a request by the Third Estate to have the votes counted by the head rather than the estate. As a result, the Third Estate saw they could not reason with the king and this opened the path to revolution.
Louis XIV
King Louis XVI of France.
King Louis XVI