French Revolution?

Question

What suggested that King Louis XVI misread the mood of the French people prior to the revolution?

Answer 1

Political and Social Inequalities

France still practised feudalism in the 18th century. The nobles and clergy enjoyed special privileges. They did not have to pay taxes. The common people did not have power and freedom in politics. They worked hard and had to pay heavy taxes. The nobles and clergy made up the First and Second Estates in the Estates General. The common people (i.e. the middle class (bourgeoisie), peasants and artisans) made up the Third Estate. The nobles and clergy could outvote the common people easily though the Estates General was always not called by the king, who ruled as an absolute monarch. The common people became discontented with the privileged classes.

Bankruptcy of the Government

Louis XIV had spent too much. His successors did not cut down expenses. Louis XVI also failed to improve the financial situation. He dismissed ministers who tried to introduce financial reforms. By 1789, the government was bankrupt.

Influence of the Enlightenment and the American Revolution

The ideas and writings of Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau became widespread. The French people were inspired to go against their king.

Answer 2

Here's a specific incident to supplement Bob's good general answer above.
In 1789, Louis XVI called for an election to bring in the
"Third Estate" mentioned above. It was an emergency move to help with the problem of national bankruptcy. In May the elected representatives of the people (about 1/5th of the people were eligible to vote - all men who had property) met at Versailles in numbers large enough to outvote the entrenched privileged elites of the aristocracy and the high clergy. Fearing the common people would change their wealth and privileged status, the king locked them out of the main meeting place at Versailles.
So they met at a nearby tennis court (indoors then) and formed the "National Assembly which led the initial people's revolution.
Locking out elected representatives of the people was a very stupid and feeble attempt to avoid reforms.

Answer 3

He and the rest of the aristocrates belived that the peasents would mangage somehow, I meany they didn't have it as easy as they did before the 1780's and 1790's. They also belived that the peasents could manage a 'slight' increase on taxes so they could send more troops to American to help us fight the Brits.

Answer 4

All i know is that thats what absolute monarchs do they don't care about the people.