French Revolution- Initial Uprising
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Louis XVI
A Weak Leader
Louis XVI became the ruler of France on May 10th,
1774. When he took the throne, he was only 20 years old.
Many viewed him as immature and lacking in self-
confidence. Louis would often ignore his duties and instead
go hunting or lock making. His wife, Marie Antoinette,
contributed to his inability to make decisions. She would
often give him poor advice and interfered in important
government issues. The few decisions he did make often led
to political and civil turmoil. Eventually, he was forced to
call a meeting of the Estates-General-an assembly of
representatives from all three estates. The upper two
classes suggested raising taxes on only the third estate.
This infuriated the lower estate to the point at which they
seperated from the upper classes and decided to pass laws
and reforms under the National Assembly. Soon, the people
revolted against Louis. He fled from Paris to his palace in
Versailles. He was returned to Paris by force in October of
1789. Louis XVI was executed on January 21st, 1793.