Monica Bolanos- Honorbound

Mrs. Santosuosso

World History 6233-07

12/11/09

Cause and Effect of the French Revolution

Despite that the majority of the causes of the French Revolution began far before it

actually took place, the consequences withstand to this day. The causes of the

revolution started with the Bourbon monarch of Louis XIV went through Louis XVI,

and Marie Antoinette.

Louis XIV went against He went against the way of ruling (WHAT WAS THE WAY?) and
claimed divine right and did away the parliament. FRONDE REVOLTS. His mother, the queen, him, and

his brother were exiled from Paris. Never forgetting the hunger, pain and suffering he endured during this

time, he stripped the nobles of their power. FRANCO-SPANISH WAR June 6th, 1660, he married Marie-

Therese of Austria who was the daughter of King Phillip IV of Spain as a peace treaty and making Louis

the most powerful monarch in Europe.  too much power no balance of power. After his adviser since he

was 4 died, he announced to his intentions to rule France alone. Officials could not do anything, without

his consent. By doing this, he changed the way government had been run since the death of King Henry

VI, forty years past. Additionally, he did not allow nobles attend council meetings, but only his most trust

allies were let to advise him. Although with the hire and assistance of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, he

restructured the finance and administration of the national debt. Louis kept track of the treasury and yet

managed to reduce taxes. Louis invaded the Spanish Netherlands in DATE, coincidently starting a long

string of wars in Flanders, (where is Flanders?). He was seen as the “protectors of the arts.” (important?)

By doing this, he added grandeur to the court by being fashionable. He through luxurious parties that

nobility attended in lavish dress embroidered with precious metals and jewels. Louis XIV built the

Versailles to be the house meant for “God’s representative on earth” (do I quote?)It took 20 years and 25

millions livres (how much bread is that worth/ American dollars/how much was the upkeep?)
 Bolanos 2

Through defeating the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and Netherlands, he created the greatest power in

Europe. Louis believed that he can only eradicate the Protestants by force and on the 18th of October 1685,

he countermanded the Edict of Nantes thus taking away their right to worship which they had since 1598.

This went well with the court and the Catholic Church but provoked disaster and chaos. Churches were

torn down and protestants caught worshipping? Executed. 300,000 people left France and since most of

them were merchants, and artisans, this countermandation was awful for the economy. 1688, France

faced yet another war but with the English, Dutch, and the Holy Roman Empire, later to be known as the

War of the Grand Alliance, lasting until 1697. Louis renounced Lorraine, Catalonia, parts of Flanders, and

Orange. He still remained the ruler of the richest, most powerful nation in Europe. He was the oldest king

of France in two centuries. (Should he have given up his power)The War of Spanish Succession was

caused by the death last Hapsburg king of Spain, who promised Louis’s grandson the throne. Problems

occurred when the young king was crowned and Louis took over with the intent to rule until his grandson

was old enough. England and the Holy Roman Empire contested this arrangement and thus beginning the

war. The war ended in 1714, cost France not much land but ended its predominance in Europe. (Mrs.

Santosuosso’s class). Finally on September 1, 1715, the French were filled with relief of the death of the

Sun King.