Paper Topic:

1789 International Baccalaureate European History, French Revolution

The practice of the absolutism ideology and the incompetence by the French monarchy during the 16th century both led to the weakening and eventual downfall of the French crown . These events served as the catalysts in the abolishment of the monarchy which took effect after the success of the French Revolution in 1789 . This seeks to show how the practice of absolutism by the French monarchs paved the way for its weakening . Moreover , the will highlight several factors present in the monarchy and in the system that contributed to its downfall which

paved the way for the revolution

The will first discuss about the reasons for the decline of the French monarchy which eventually led to its downfall . The will elaborate on the three reasons that contributed to such . These reasons are the incompetent king of France , discrepancies within the system and the rise of a new class in French society

The first reason to discuss is the incompetence of the king of France in executing his responsibility in running the country . Prior to the rule of Louis XVI , the French monarch 's enjoyed the support of the elite 's and common people . In that time France enjoyed the status of a rich and powerful country . Even Louis XIV , exalted by his own propagandists and many historians as the Sun King , never actually enjoyed that kind of authority . Theories of divine right , which linked the King to God , proved untenable for many (Center for History and New Media ,

.1 ) However , after the rule of the Bourbon family , the French monarchy particularly the French crown had been a target of assassinations and takeover by the members of the government and local elites . Some of the king 's own ministers criticized past practices and proposed reforms , but a more influential source of dissent was the parlements , 13 regional royal courts led by the Parlement of Paris (Encarta , 2007 ,

.1 ) To add further , there were decisions made by the French King through royal decree that is seen to be unfair and unjust among the locals . In this capacity , the parlements frequently protested royal initiatives that they believed to threaten the traditional rights and liberties of the people (Encarta , 2007 ,

.1 The failure of Louis XVI to appease his detractors and make suitable decisions to address the current needs of the French society served as one of the catalyst for the French Revolution in 1789

Another reason for the weakening of the French monarchy is the discrepancies present within the system . These discrepancies are the expenditures made by the French monarchy that failed to produce outcomes or even address the needs of the French people . The discontent of the French people might not have brought about a political revolution if there had not been a fiscal crisis in the late 1780s (Encarta , 2007 br

.1 ) During his time , Louis XVI inherited a government whose income at a near bankruptcy due to the former French King 's endeavors...

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