The+French+Monarchy

QUESTION: //In what position was the King in the French monarchy?//
Before the French Revolution, the French monarchy was one of Europe's most successful monarchies that was often envied by. It was very aggressive and bright, but a waste for the common people. It was a monarchy where the middle and lower classes were living in a world like no other. These two classes would be charged taxes because they were the ones supporting the clergy and nobility. The lower classes would be forced to pay taxes they can't even pay for and middle classes were put into shame by the nobility. It was an absolute monarchy until the country got bankrupt and needed to have a meeting with each class to consult the issue on income and how much of the country's money was spent. This monarchy was abolished. King Louis VIII(1223-1226) made one significant innovation to the monarchy. He made a system where the younger sons of the king were given land to rule in the king's name. These princes were not independent rulers however. This system is called the appanage(gift of land) system. King Louis IX(1226-1270) extended the royal power even more. He excluded nobles from the Church's elections and made a law that nobles cannot slaughter their peasants or burn their crops. France's monarchy was most powerful at this time.

During the French Revolution, the Legislative Assembly votes to get rid of the monarchy and establish the First Republic. The idea came one year after King Louis XVI(1774–1792) hesitantly approved a new constitution that took most of his power. Since Louis was only 19 when he took the throne, he didn't know how to deal with the severe financial problems France had. When there were food shortages, Louis and his wife, Mary-Antoinette, ate lavish foods. Louis and his wife were imprisoned and forced to be executed.

__Confession__ Woman dressed white, refusing to swear an oath against the King and Queen.

__Tuileries Royal Family__ One of the more wealthier families walking with well protected soldiers next to them.

__Peasant March__ Peasants revolting against the monarchy.

__Citations__:
"55. The French Revolution and the Restoration of Monarchy in France. Wells, H.G. 1922. A Short History of the World." Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Quotes, Poems, Novels, Classics and hundreds more. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. .

"AP European History / Ch 18 - French Revolution." AP European History / FrontPage. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. .

Delors, historical novelist Catherine, and author of For the King. "The 10th of August 1792: fall of the French monarchy." Versailles and More - by Historical Novelist Catherine Delors - Author of For the King. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. .

"FC68: Rise of the French monarchy (c.1000-1300) - The Flow of History." Welcome - The Flow of History. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. .

"Monarchy abolished in France â€” History.com This Day in History â€” 9/21/1792." History.com â€” History Made Every Day â€” American & World History. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. .