The Death of the King and the Queen
Louis XVI, King of France married a foreigner who was Marie Antoinette of Austria. The French people blamed most of their problems on her. When Louis XVI inherited the crown, it was at the worst time possible. The country was nearly bankrupt and economy was not getting any better. A lot of people were unemployed, crops were failing and food was too expensive. Louis XVI assembled the States General, a national assembly that represented three “estates”. These were the French people (nobles, clergy and the commoners). The commons used this as an opportunity to declare itself the National Assembly, starting the French Revolution. The king was found “teaming up with the nobility when kings were supposedly allies to the poor people as for the queen, the people saw that she used so much money on her hair and clothes that could have been used for the people. They were now forced to flee to Austria but were caught. Louis was executed nine months before Marie Antoinette. They were both sent to the guillotine. The guillotine is a machine for beheading by means of a heavy blade that slides down in vertical guides.
Sources:
http://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/4f7be618e3.jpg
www.awesomestories.com/assets/louis-xvi-parting
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-louis-xvi-executed
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/louis.htm
http://www.classzone.com/net_explorations/U5/U5_article4.cfm
Researchers:
Janine Yu Jazlyn Yu
Danielle Zamora
Sources:
http://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/4f7be618e3.jpg
www.awesomestories.com/assets/louis-xvi-parting
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-louis-xvi-executed
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/louis.htm
http://www.classzone.com/net_explorations/U5/U5_article4.cfm
Researchers:
Janine Yu Jazlyn Yu
Danielle Zamora