LOUIS XVI’S REALLY BAD DAY…

The Revolution Begins

INTRODUCING THE KING AND QUEENClick icon to add picture

Louis XVI and his

wife, Marie

Antoinette, were the

wrong people at the

wrong time.

He got married at the

age of 15 and became

king at 19.

WHEN YOU OWE TOO MUCH MONEY….

Louis liked to live large.

Borrowed a great deal of money to fight wars

(like helping us in our Revolution!)

Banks eventually stopped lending him money

His people were already taxed a great deal

SO HE TURNED TO THE PEOPLE

Called for a meeting of

the Estates General to find

a way to get more money.

The 3rd Estate said they

would only help if they got

more votes.

And he shut them down!

They broke off and formed

their own government (while

still living in France).

This ended France’s

absolute monarchy.

They even wrote a new

constitution called the

“Tennis Court Oath.”

SO THEY DO WHAT ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD

DO….

STORMING THE BASTILLE

An angry crowd stormed the Bastille, a prison and

armory

They loaded up on weapons and tore the Bastille down,

as it represented the king.

BASTILLE DAY

July 14th is like

independence

day for the

French.

The poor began rioting

Broke into the rich guys’ houses and killed them.

Upset over the unfair Estate system and increased

poverty

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?