1. Predecessors of King Louis XVI i.e. Louis XV, Louis XIV, Louis XIII etc
The
previous French kings (Louis XV, Louis XIV, Louis XIII etc) from whom
king Louis XVI inherited the throne laid foundation that contributed to
the outbreak of the French Revolution of 1789. They are blamed for
introducing and perpetuating extravagancy, unfair; political, social and
economic system that favored the privileged class (clergy & nobles)
against the unprivileged class (peasants and middle class) in the
history of France. Louis XV for instance caused financial crisis in
France when he wasted huge chunks of state money inthe7years war with
Britain in India (1656-1663). The humiliating defeat of the French
troops in the war is what partly made Louis XVI to venture in the
American war of independence that worsened financial crisis and caused
the 1789 revolution. Thus, the weakness and unfair system of King Louis
Xvi's predecessors had already antagonized the Bourbon monarchy from the
French peasants and middle class, thereby becoming a long term factor
that caused the 1789 revolution in France.
2. GENERAL LAFAYETTE.
Lafayette
was a general in the French army and a veteran of the American war of
independence. He was influenced by the democratic, constitutional and
liberal ideas of the Americans which he assisted them to attain against
the British. This experience inspired him with a revolutionary attitude
against the oppressive, exploitative, dictatorial and undemocratic
French government. It's this attitude that made him to turn round and
support the revolution when he was ordered to suppress the
revolutionaries. He is blamed for being one of the ring leaders of the
revolution against the Bourbon monarchy.
3. COUNT MIRABEAU
Mirabeau
was a noble who unlike other nobles had passion/zeal for equality,
liberty, fraternity and democracy. It's this sentiment that made him to
be elected to represent the third estate in the French parliament of 5th
May 1789. The same sentiment explains why he easily became the leader
and president of the national assembly. Under his leadership, the third
estate representatives rejected the ancient system Of separate meetings
of the 3estates in favour of a single assembly. When King Louis XVI
ruled against the idea of a single assembly and ordered the third estate
delegates to leave the parliament, Mirabeau confronted the master of
ceremonies that; Go tell your master that we are here by the will of the
people And that we shall not leave except at the point of the bayonet!
It
was this tough stand under Mirabeau's guidance that forced King Louis
Xvi to allow the three estates to sit debate and vote in a single
assembly. This was a fundamental change because it was the first of its'
kind in the political history of France during the ancient regime.
4 TURGOT
He
was a senior economist who was appointed a financial controller by King
Louis XVI in 1774.He had greatly improved the economy of the province
of Limousin and the king expected him to do the same for the French
economy. Turgot summarized his reform agenda in the following words. No
increase in taxation, no bankruptcy, no more borrowing. Consequently, he
proposed an end to tax exemption of nobles and clergy. He also stopped
wastage of public money on unnecessary expenses and saved millions of
money. However, these reforms made him very unpopular to the Queen,
upper clergy and nobles who pressurised King Louis XVI to dismiss him in
1776. His dismissal was a big disappointment to the French masses to
which Voltaire lamented in these words;
I see
nothing before me now but death; I am struck to the heart by this blow
and shall never be consoled for having seen the beginning and the end of
the golden age that Turgot was preparing for us. % Turgot's dismissal
became one of the long term grievances that made the French masses to
loose hope in the ancient regime's prospect of addressing the ever
worsening financial crisis and led to the outbreak of the 1789
revolution.
5. NECKER.
He was
an accountant from Switzerland who was appointed by King Louis XVI to
replace Turgot in 1776. He used his experience to persuade the king to
reduce court expenses at Versailles and privileges of the nobles and
clergy such as tax exemptions. However, he worsened French financial
bankruptcy by borrowing heavy loans to meet Frances' expenses in the
American war of independence. In 1781, Necker published a financial
report of income and expenditure in which he dubiously tried to show
that the financial situation was better than it actually was. His aim
was to maintain some public confidence in the government.
However,
the published statement exposed serious issues that antagonized the
Frenchmen with the ancient regime. For instance, it shows the
governments' continuous yearly payment to the hair dresser of Princess
D'Artois who had died long before the age of 3years. It also exposed
huge figures that were paid as pensions to court favourites. Like
Turgot, these made Necker to bed is missed by King Louis XVI on the
advice of Marie Antoinette, court nobles and clergy. His dismissal was
disastrous as he was replaced by Calonne who misused the little money in
the treasury, hence worsening the financial awkwardness of the French
treasury. The failure of Calonne and later Bishop De Brienne forced
Louis XVI to recall Necker in 1788 who reaffirmed De -Brienne,s earlier
advice to the king to call the estates general meeting of 5th may1789
that triggered off the revolution.
6 CALONNE
Calonne
was a court favourite who replaced Necker in 1781 as a financial
controller. He proposed to tax exemptions of the nobles and clergies. He
also suggested imposition of new land owners in order to raise money to
address financial crisis. He contradicted himself by excessively
borrowing money to the extent of 300 million dollars within 3years. This
worsened the problem due to the debt he had and undermined the
popularity of the Bourbon monarchy. Although he was dismissed' the
situation nevertheless worsened financial bankruptcy and indirectly
prepared ground for the revolution by 1789.
7. ARCH-BISHOPDE-BRIENNE.
He
was a cleric appointed to replace Calonne as a financial minister. He
persuaded the notables (nobles, clergy, state officials etc) to accept
the financial reforms proposed by previous financial ministers like
Turgot and Necker. De-Brienne advised King Louis XVI to use his powers
to tax the nobles, which resulted into a noble rebellion of 1788. He
advised the King to call the estates general meeting which provoked
hostile opposition from the privileged class and caused Louis XVI to
recall back Necker. His idea was however emphasized by Necker and Louis
could no longer object to call the estates general meeting from where
the great revolution of1789 emerged.
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