Why was King Louis executed in 1793
French people wished to see France a republic but the King
King Louis was killed executed due to his incompetence as a leader, and as France’s King. He
often used to sleep in important council meetings, and prioritized hunting game instead of
leading his nation. King Louis showed his distaste and untrustworthiness on countless events.
Large events which led to his execution were, “The Flee To Varennes”. Which the royal family
including the King tried escaping their house arrest and leave the Empire of France in ruins.
Ultimately being caught and condemned for their actions, The Attack on Tuileries palace which
was an insurrectionary action by Republican soldiers and the people of Paris, who wanted to
depose the king and abolish the monarchy.
King Louis fate was prestigiously devised on the attack on Tuileries, As Louis and his family
took refuge in the chamber of the Legislative Assembly, the crowd outside bayed for their
arrest and the abolition of the monarchy. With a sword drawn from blood thirsty citizens, a
group of 400 noblemen, went imminent, and took up arms and entered the Tuileries to protect
him. A standoff between the noblemen and a growing crowd of sans culottes developed and
threatened to erupt into violence. The nobles were eventually disarmed by Lafayette and sent
home at the king’s command. This journée became known as the ‘Day of Daggers’ or the
‘Poignard conspiracy’. However, several weeks later, in April, another working-class mob
gathered at the gates of the Tuileries, blocking the royal family’s carriage and preventing a
departure for their summer residence at Saint-Cloud. This confrontation confirmed the king’s
status as a prisoner in the Tuileries. It was probably the tipping point in his decision to flee
Paris in June.
The flee to Varennes was another reason for his execution, The flight to Varennes describes
the royal family’s failed attempt to escape their house arrest in Paris in June 1791. They were
located and detained the following day and returned to the capital. The flight to Varennes was
a turning point in the French Revolution because it exposed the untrustworthiness of the king
and the unworkability of the newly implemented constitution. The flight to Varennes, though
minor in itself, signed the death warrant for bourgeois dreams of a French constitutional
monarchy. The king had attempted to flee the revolution and could no longer be trusted. His
working alliance with the National Constituent Assembly and his acceptance of
the Constitution of 1791 were exposed as fraudulent.
People here already wanted King Louis’s head on a spike with no regards with what he had to
say, his actions were impactful in the worst of ways and triggered a chain reaction of people
wanting him off the monarchy. These events started and ultimately served as evidence for his
trial, and his wife’s. Where he was found guilty for treason and sentenced to die.
Hunger was the main cause of political instability between 1789 and 1795” How far do you
agree?
To a greater extent, hunger was seen as a main cause of political instability due to how angry
and frustrated citizens became. After a bad harvest and unfavourable weather, people began
appealing to the crown for help and guidance. In addition to bad weather and a bad harvest, the
government began to tax the common people high amounts. There was high unemployment as
most commoners relied on their farms for their livelihood. As a result, stores began to get looted
and started the Age of Enlightenment movement.
Commented [LFK1]: In 1789, only a small minority of
continued to mishandle the situation. Concessions were
made reluctantly: reference might be made to the August
Decrees and the Declaration of Rights. He was open to
advice from the extreme reactionaries, including his Queen,
Marie Antoinette, other members of his family and
courtiers. Growing dissatisfaction especially from the
Parisians was shown when he was taken from Versailles to
Paris. Candidates can explain the link between growing
radicalism and Louis XVI’s execution. This culminated in the
replacement of relatively moderate groups by the Jacobins.
These were the first political group to demand the King’s
death. The effects of the war and internal rebellion can be
explained. These were confirmed when Louis and his family
tried to escape but were arrested at Varennes (1791). The
suspicions that the King supported foreign intervention to
reverse the Revolution were a turning point, leading many
to see the King as a traitor.
Commented [LFK2]: Learn to differentiate between
stating and explaining factors. Outlining of factors is
reserved for the introduction while explanation is for the
body paragraphs.
Commented [LFK3]: The explanation is more or less like
narration or description of events.
Commented [LFK4]: Explain and always link to the
question, 4/10.
Commented [LFK5]: A quotation has both opening and
closing speech marks.
Commented [LFK6]: It was certainly a factor and events
in both Paris and in the localities were often caused or
fuelled by a hungry population. There was a clear link
between the price of bread and its
availability and popular unrest of the sort that could be
utilised for political purposes. Poor
harvests led to both rural and urban unrest as events in
1788–89 and 1792–23 showed clearly.
Middle class antipathy towards the Ancien Régime would
have achieved much less without
the mob, and the mob was hungry. It was Arthur Young who
wrote in 1789 ‘the deficit would
not have produced a revolution but in concurrence with the
price of bread.’ The need to pacify
the countryside was a driving force of many of the events of
1789–95. However, there were
many other factors such as the role of the King prior to his
execution. Louis’ ability to offend and destroy any chance of
a constitutional monarchy was exceptional. He was a key
reason
why events moved firmly to the Left, and the Left was
bitterly divided amongst itself. The
menacing foreign situation, with war and invasion in the
background, did not help and the deep
social divisions fuelled instability as well. Royalism was a
growing and disruptive force. The
failure to find a form of government which could
accommodate so many diverse views was
hardly surprising given the legacy of the Ancien Régime and
the enormity of the problems
which faced France in those years. What little system of ...
Since the majority of France consisted of the Third Estate (24,5000,000) which had the largest
population, it also was the poorest. And they lived off of agriculture and their farming yields.
When the bad harvests and terrible weather patterns began to start, it disadvantaged that group.
Harvest failures, food shortages and high prices for food, particularly bread, ended up shaping
the course of the French Revolution. This was particularly true for the working classes in Paris.
Much of the revolutionary activity in Paris and other cities were driven by food shortages and
high prices. Throughout this struggle King Louis and his family however, did not circum to the
same problems. Mary Antionette (Kings Wife) was often seen taunting the common people,
when they asked for bread she replied saying “If you’re hungry, then eat cake”. Commented [LFK7]: Where is the political problem?

A hungry man, is an angry man. People began to get angry that no measures were being taken
to help the common people. Furthermore, The Crown was belittling the common people with
higher taxes than money they made on a month’s salary. An assembly was called, named the
Estate General, which 3 groups were present. The first estate (Clergymen and higher priests),
The Second Estate, (The nobility), and lastly The Third Estate, (The Common People). In this
venture, there was uneven voting strategies that were implemented to support the nobility and
the clergy and not much was done for the lower class Third Estate. Angry mobs rose up
especially in the form of the Paris Mob/sans culottes whom were prominent in adding to the
events of this period. Commented [LFK8]: Learn to answer the question, avoid
these oft-quoted adages that might not add weight after all.
The storm on the Bastille was a great example of hunger causing political instability. In this
event, on July 14 1789, the people of Paris captured a gothic 14th century prison known as the
“Bastille”. This was after the government situated troops around Paris whom antagonised the
common people, ultimately causing a march known as Hotel des Invalides where
approximately 3000 firearms and five canons were stolen. And Bastille was taken for its
gunpowder. After arriving at Bastille and negotiating with the governor, marchers burst into an
outer courtyard and a pitch battle erupted. By the time it was over, the people of Paris had freed
the prisoners held there. Officers were killed with their heads held high on spikes, parading
around the streets. Commented [LFK9]: Focus and balance the periodization.

However, to a lesser extent hunger was not the main cause of political instability. Many factors
such as high taxes, debt, incompetence, treason, and more caused this. While the common
people were struggling, King Louis and people apart of the crown enjoyed their best life. From
expensive dining, to over 1000 candles lit at every supper table for luxurious use. Furthermore,
France was involved in many wars at the time. The American Revolution, was greatly funded
by France in the mindset that they would help defeat the British and be compensated afterwards.
When it was time for that, America gave France the cold shoulder. This left huge amount of
debt for France. In order for King Louis to keep/ sustain his luxurious lifestyle, taxes had to be
paid at a higher amount. Taxes were mainly targeted towards the Third Estate, and exempted
the The First, and Second. Commented [LFK10]: If hunger was not the main cause,
so what was the main cause?
With these issues affecting the people, a revolutionary was born. Countless assemblies began
to overcome their provisional status of disbanding after a certain period to becoming a
representation of the common folk. The National assembly was one of their first assemblies
which brought together to demand that the King make economical reforms. The King was now
facing backlash from the largest group in France, which at this time moderately was causing a
fracas in the imbalance of political stability. People wanted change, and King Louis was slowly
losing his power against them. Furthermore, even assassination attempts were created towards
King Louis such was the raid of his palace by marchers where the Royal Family nearly got out. Commented [LFK11]: Answer the question.

In conclusion, hunger did cause a large sector of political instability as it brought upon many
events that contradicted the plans and the safety of the crowns monarchy, but this was not the
only aspect to the cause of instability. Although the number factors that lead to a political
downfall were vast, from the all the assemblies called, the riots, storms, and more. They all had
a similar comparison together which brought an unsanctified reason to abolish the monarchy
by resisting the oppressive government. Commented [LFK12]: Improve expression and be straight
and to the point, 8/20.
Total, 11/30.