We can’t stand them! Why do we have to suffer while they are having parties with their rich noble friends? I say we kill them! That's the people of the third estate of France. They didnt want an apology or free bread, they wanted a Republic. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were the monarchs of France during the French Revolution. In the 1780s, political corruption, the poor economy, and an unfair estate system was major issue that the King was too blind to see. The depraved king, financial crisis, and unethical social hierarchy sparked the third estate to rebel and start the French Revolution. The corrupt Monarch, Louis the XVI was only the beginning of the downfall of the French Monarchy. The King was irresponsible in managing the economy …show more content…
Shortly after the Seven Year War ended, King Louis agreed to help the American colonists in the American War. That sent the country into over 240 million Euros in debt. (Doc E) France was in an economic depression and Louis only spent more. The third estate struggled to feed their family for the price of bread skyrocketed. On top of that, the taxation system was corrupt. Louis only taxed the third estate. He didnt realize how bad most of the third estate had it and when he saw them for the first time he didnt do anything about it. Louis had all the power over France. He was an absolute monarch, he didn’t wanna share power. He ruled by the Devine Right theory which says that he received his power to govern from God. He made and enforced the laws, he could declare war and make peace, he spent the people’s money as he pleased, …show more content…
The country was in an economic depression as I mentioned before, mostly from the American War which skyrocketed France’s debt by more than half (Doc E). Prices and taxes rose on the third estate. The income was 471.6 million livers while Louis spent 633.1 million livers. He put 261.1 livers into interest on debt but because he was spending so much on war and court luxuries the country only went into more debt (Doc K). The French budget was on the verge of collapse, unemployment was rising, and there were food shortages. Louis only taxed the third estate more so he could have more money since the economy was in great danger of falling. Due to the economic crash, most of the third estate suffered. they had to give up food and animals and even more money just to pay the heavy taxation (Doc G). Having to give up your property and food just so you can pay tax to one lord had to have been the breaking point for most of the Third Estate. The Political and social causes all connect to the economic depression. The contributors to the French Revolution are like a spiderweb and the Revolution is the