Question

Mention any three ways in which Louis XVI helped to contribute to the French Revolution?

Answer 1

Hint: In 1789, the city of Paris was in a state of alarm. There was a rumor spread that the king would open fire upon the citizens of Paris. People started gathering and they started breaking a number of government buildings in search of armed forces. The commander of the Bastille was killed within the armed fight. All the prisoners were released. People of the city started to protest against the high price of bread. A series of a new chain of events initiated which finally led to the execution of the King in France.

Complete answer:
The monarch community of France didn’t have the power to impose taxes. Louis XVI, on 5 May 1789, had called an assembly to introduce proposals for new taxes. The 1st and 2nd estate representatives were present and the members of the third estate were represented by its prosperous and educated members. According to the doctrine of the assembly, each state had only 1 vote. But the representative of the 3rd estate was rejected so their members walked out and started to protest. Due to the severe winter, the bread price increased and people had to stand hours in long queues for their requirements. The rumors were spread that the lords of the estate hired bands of brigands to destroy the ripened crops. Due to which, the peasants started looting hoarded grains and burnt down documents containing records of manorial dues. Louis XVI accorded recognition to the National Assembly. Louis XVI accepted the principle that his powers would from now to be checked by the constitutional framework.
There are 3 ways in which Louis XVI helped to contribute French Revolution: (1) When he was nominated as a new king, he found an empty treasure and due to continuous war had completely drained the financial resources of France. (2) There was the cost of maintaining the unusual at the immense Palace of Versailles. (3) Increasing taxes did not satisfy, as the French society was divided into 3 estates and only 3rd estate had to pay taxes.

Note: The massive growth of the French population led them towards a rapid increase in the demand for food grains and other essential commodities. Most of the workers were employed as laborers in the workshop, whose owner had fixed their wages. Therefore the gap between the rich and the poor kept on rising. These unsatisfied factors led to the outbreak of the French Revolution.