Hayley Ross Mrs. Parks 1/24/15 Red Winter Research Paper "We were born free and equal. Now we are all chained" (The Philosophies of Enlightenment-Rousseau). This is what Rousseau thought about equality. He believed that everyone is free and deserves equality but society puts people in different classes. During the enlightened time period, they started to realize that everyone no matter your place in society deserved equality (“Famous people of the revolution” 2013). This realization is what caused the revolution not the mistakes made by Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. It all started November 2, 1755, the day Marie Antoinette was born. Many believe she is the cause of the French Revolution and the fall of the French monarchy. She may have done …show more content…
The biggest thing she was victimized for was the diamond necklace scandal. In 1781 Marie Antoinette was approached by Charles Boehmer about buying a necklace with 647 diamonds on it. Boehmer created the necklace for Louis XV, before he could finish the necklace Boehmer died. Later on he realized that he needed to sell the necklace to avoid financial ruin. When he approached Marie, she knew it was way too expensive for her to buy and she would not wear something that was intended for someone else. Boehmer continued to bother her to purchase it on several other occasions (Lotz 100). Later on Marie’s “friend” Jeanne informed Boehmer that she would be able to convince her to purchase the necklace. After she promised him that she would get Marie to reconsider she went to Cardinal de Rohan and told him that Marie wanted to purchase the necklace. She also told him that she didn't think it was wise for her to purchase it in person. He agreed to negotiate the purchase of the necklace with his own money (Lotz 104). Jeanne promised that Marie would pay him back over the next two years. After Cardinal de Rohan came to an agreement with Boehmer, the jeweler, the necklace was given to Jeanne so that she could give it to the queen. After Jeanne got hold of the necklace she then gave it to her husband to go sell in London. Not knowing what happened, Boehmer waited for the queen to show off his wonderful necklace, he waited feast day after feast day for her to wear it. He decided to write a letter to her saying he was glad the necklace was in her hands. Marie Antoinette not knowing what he was implying, burned the letter. Boehmer was having a financial crisis and need the money that he was owed. He decided he did not want to approach the queen directly and decided to talk to Madame Campan, her chief waiter, to inform her that she owed him money. She did not know of any such
Marie Antoinette was the Archduchess of Austria, and became Dauphine of France after several years. Many French citizens dislike her because of her behaviors. Some citizens blamed on her that she was one of the reason to cause the French Revolution. Some of the people said that she was not a serious problem for forming the French Revolution. There were also some people said that those behaviors were came from Louis XVI or influenced to Marie Antoinette, and actually he was one of the reason that caused the French Revolution. So what is the truth as one of the cause of French Revolution? Was she really a cause of the French Revolution?
While many people may be familiar with the story of the French Revolution and history of Marie Antoinette, they may not fully comprehend the lively debate that continues to exist around Marie Antoinette. A debate over how Marie Antoinette should be remembered exists, with some arguing that Antoinette was spoiled and careless and others taking the stance that Antoinette was a victim of her harsh circumstances. Before delving into this controversy, background knowledge of Marie Antoinette’s life can assist in understanding the controversy. In 1770 at the age of fourteen, Marie Antoinette, daughter of Austrian empress Maria Theresa, was married to Louis XVI of France to strengthen French and Austrian relations. In 1774, Louis XVI became king and Marie Antoinette became queen. Dissatisfaction toward Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and economic turmoil led the French Revolution to begin in 1789, with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette eventually being guillotined in 1793 (Covington 56-65).
In the late 1700’s, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, two of the most unliked rulers of Paris had somewhat important role during the French Revolution. King Louis was not prepared for the task and his wife Marie Antoinette was not much help.
During The French Revolution, many citizens (mostly the 3rd estate) were not treated the way they should have been. The French Revolution was the cause of the rebellions and difficult economic situations that many citizens had to endure. During the reign of King Louis XIV and Queen Marie Antoinette, many citizens (especially the 3rd estate) were livid about how poor they were being treated.
After the death of King Lois and Marie Antoinette, there was a 10-month period of violence and rage; this was labeled the “Reign of Terror”. The French people became so lost in their rage that they forgot what they were fighting for. The Revolution became more about revenge than an improved resolution to the monarchy. We would see later that this eventually led them back into a monarchy with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte as he conquered France and its surroundings.
Many people may argue that Marie Antoinette was the biggest factor for why France fell into a revolutionary state, however, Marie Antoinette was a queen victimized and forced to play role from a young age to satisfy the French people who disapproved. Marie Antoinette was falsely blamed for her actions when in fact it wasn’t her fault. Marie Antoinette was forced to accept a society where she had to learn new customs and traditions. She had to leave everything behind, consequently become something she isn’t. Her frustration and unhappiness with Versailles was no surprise. Marie Antoinette was frustrated by her marriage. At Versailles her husband-to-be, Louis Auguste had no interest in her. In the film, Marie Antoinette, the director clearly
Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France, played a major role in the 1789 French Revolution. As a young woman of fourteen-years-old, Marie Antoinette was thrust into the royal spotlight and commanded to play a significant role in European history. Marie Antoinette is perhaps widely known as the lavish Queen of France, who, upon hearing the French people were without bread, supposedly said, “Let them eat cake.” However, the true Marie Antoinette was an intelligent woman, and despite her own extravagant lifestyle, displayed caring attributes and sensitivity towards the poor population of France. Furthermore, the French Revolution was an extremely difficult time for Marie Antoinette and her family. The Queen recently lost her son as the French
The coronation of Louis-Auguste and Marie Antoinette as the King and Queen of France was embraced by the nation; however, it did not take long for the public’s opinion of their new queen to change. The nation was overcome by debt and nearly bankrupt, yet Marie Antoinette gambled and overspent. She was living a life of luxury while her nation was suffering. As a result of her excessive habits, the queen was criticized and blamed for the increased financial turmoil and hostility between the estates. At this time, Marie Antoinette was nicknamed “Madame Deficit” (newworldencyclopedia.com Marie
Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France and Navarre from 1774 to 1792. She is viewed as a noteworthy memorable figure and is said to have been the greatest reason in inciting the French Revolution. Conceived as the girl of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa, she was hitched to Louis-Auguste who climbed the position of authority as Louis XVI of France in 1774. Marie, who turned into the Dauphine of France upon her marriage was given the title of Queen of France and Navarre when King louis turned into the ruler. When she was recently hitched into the illustrious family unit, the French individuals revered her for her magnificence and charms. However the overall population assumptions towards her started to change when she
Marie Antoinette was the queen of France and could be seen as a controversial figure. She grew up in Austria and later moved to France, causing an outrage since she was an outsider.. Many events were blamed on her which had a huge impact on France. Many opposed her due to her poor leadership skills and lack of interest in the people. Marie Antoinette, along with her husband Louis XVI, came into power at a difficult time. France was in debt and revolutions were rising. Unfortunately, Marie Antoinette lacked the leadership and confidence necessary to rule. The time period of her rule was during the Enlightenment in the late 1700’s. Marie Antoinette was later executed in the guillotine for being found guilty of treason. Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, greatly impacted the history of Western Civilization by her excessive spending, her incompetence to rule, and her flight to Varennes.
The people of France decided to create many rumors about her because she was not French, and a lot of the gossip was horrible. Marie Antoinette was definitely embarrassed by all the scandalous rumors and for her part in the Diamond Necklace Affair , 1785. The Diamond Necklace Affair was based upon how the French citizens believed that Antoinette was involved in the crime of theft of jewelry and many were outraged about it. The events of this Affair helped lead to important events that took place during the French
The story of revolution and resistance in 18th-century France is a complicated one, and no two historians tell the story the same way. However, it is clear that for the revolutionaries, Marie Antoinette’s significance was mainly, powerfully symbolic. "She and the people around her seemed to represent everything that was wrong with the monarchy and the Second Estate: They appeared to be tone-deaf, out of touch, disloyal (along with her allegedly treasonous behavior, writers and pamphleteers frequently accused the queen of adultery) and self-interested"( Moore 17 ). What Marie Antoinette was actually like was beside the point; the image of the queen was far more influential than the woman herself.
Without the reign of Marie Antoinette the French Revolution might not have been possible. By ushering in the difference in the social classes the people might have not have been daring enough to rebel. Although Marie had a damper on her reputation, she still was one of the most well known queens in
A key event that happened during the French Revolution that really affected France was the “Woman Marching on Versailles.” This event took place on October 5th, 1789. Before this you have to understand that these women were poor and had no money to buy bread for their children. Without food for them and their kids would die. Marie Antoinette, the queen at this time was living in her castle surrounded by luxuries, food, and money. She was completely oblivious to the fact that many people were dying while she was living her life in her castle not helping the starving people.
“If the people do not have bread, let them eat cake” was one of the most famous lines that Marie Antoinette never said. This and many other false accusations helped make Queen Marie of France one of the most misjudged and disliked characters in history. France, prior to Marie’s reign, was in poor conditions from the debt caused by the American Revolution, cold harsh winters, and famine, all of which greatly affected the French, particularly the overtaxed and mistreated lower class. Already bitter about their life, the introduction of Marie into their lives helped catalyze the already forming French Revolution. Marie Antoinette, best known for her role as the queen of France during 1789, expresses her frivolous but determined personality in addition to the criticism she receives from all the social classes in France due to her contribution to the start of the French Revolution; in A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens uses her lavish lifestyle to contrast the atrocious conditions of the poor caused by the nobility’s abuse of wealth and power and to criticize the peasants’ corrupt use of power even after the monarchy was overthrown.