THE FRENCH REVOLUTION - Educomp Online

Q11 Why did Louis XVI find an empty treasury in 1774?In 1774 Louis XVI of the Bourbon family of Kings ascended the throne of France. Upon his accession the kingfound an empty treasury because-1. Long years of Wars had drained the financial resources of France.2. It was extremely expensive to maintain the extravagant court at the Palace of Versailles.3. France had helped the 13 American colonies from the common enemy Britain.4. The government had to pay huge sums to meet its its regular expenses such as the cost of maintainingan army, the court, running government offices& Universities. As such the state was forced toincrease taxes.5. The government had taken loans from the money lenders who charged heavy rates of interest. Assuch the French government was obliged to pay an increasing percentage of its budget on interestpayment alone.Q12 Describe the meeting of the Estates General in 1789.1. The Estates General was a political body to which the three estates sent their representatives.2. In France of the Old regime, the monarch did not have the power to impose taxes according to his willalone rather he had to call a meeting of the Estates General which would pass his proposal.3. On 5 th May 1789, Louis XVI called together a meeting of the Estates General to pass proposals for newtaxes.4. The first and the second estate sent 300 members each while there were 600 members of the thirdestate .5. Louis XVI wanted to give every estate one vote as per the old practice.6. But the members of the third estate demanded that voting be conducted by the assembly as a wholewhere each member would have one vote.7. When the King rejected this proposal, members of the third estate walked out of the assembly inprotest and declared themselves as the National Assembly.8. Tennis Court Oath- The members of the third estate collected in the Tennis Court of the Palace ofVersailles declared themselves as National Assembly and vowed not to disperse till they had drafted aconstitution for France which would limit the powers of the monarch.Q13Why did Louis XVI agree to limit his powers?1. While the National Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting a constitution, the rest of France seethedwith turmoil.2. A severe winter and bad harvest led to food crisis. Bakers exploited the situation and hoardedsupplies.3. The king ordered the troops to move into Paris. As a result the agitated crowds stormed anddestroyed the Bastille.4. Peasants in several districts seized hoes and pitch forks and attacked the Chateau.5. Faced with the powers of his revolting subjects, Louis XVI finally accorded recognition to the nationalassembly and accepted in principle that his powers would from now on be checked by a constitution.Q14State the provisions of the constitution of 1791 of France.1. The National Assembly completed the draft of the constitution in 1791 that limited the powers of themonarch thus making France a constitutional monarchy.2. Powers were now separated and assigned to different institutions- the executive, the legislature andthe judiciary.3. The Constitution of 1791 vested the powers to make law in the National Assembly.4