European History
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Louis XVI was the king of France at a time when many factions were jockeying for power, ôLouis inherited both absolutism and challenges to itö (French, p. 636). The frustrations and antagonisms between the first two and the Third estate were coming to a head and Louis failed to maintain the centralization of power. He represented everything the Estates opposed: centralized government, wealth and indifference. The country was in horrible financial shape and France was deeply in debt. The financial crisis began an inflationary spiral that hurt the peasantry. Landlords began raising the rents of the peasantry at the same time they saw the purchasing power of their money decrease. Most of a typical familyÆs income could go into buying bread alone. Bankrupt, Louis was forced to call a meeting of the Estates-General in Versailles on May 5, 1789. This began the French revolution, ôThe fiscal crisis precipitated the Revolutionö (French, p. 636). The Estates-General was the national representative body in France before 1789. Its basic function was to give consent to royal taxation. Its members were divided into three classes, or estates: the clergy, the nobility (both small minorities), and the third estate, which represented the great majority of the people. The Estates-General, first convened by King Philip IV in 1302, was most powerful in the 14th and early 15th centuries. After 1614 the body did not meet until 1789, when King Louis XVI summoned the Estates-G
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by the Congress of Vienna was primarily the result of political leaders fearing another Revolution and an attempt to restore balance, peace and security to the Continent. The Congress of Vienna was a conference held by the major powers of Europe, including Austria, the U.K., Prussia, Russia and even French Foreign Minister Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord. Exiled to the U.S. during FranceÆs Reign of Terror, other leaders at the Congress did not wish France to be influential in political redistribution of territories seized during the Napoleonic Wars but Talleyrand actually exhibited a good deal of influence. Still, that Talleyrand was even present at Vienna ôàtestified to his diplomatic skillùor opportunismö (From, p. 706).
Held in 1814-1815, Napoleon returned to France during the initial days of the conference but was ultimately exiled from France for good. Despite most of the proceedings being initiated by the five major powers of Europe, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and others were involved but on a much smaller scale. Austrian Prince Klemens von Metternich was the primary architect of the peace enacted by the Congress, which would prevent full-scale war in Europe for over 100 years. However, Metternich was no fan of Enl
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Louis XVI, Congress Vienna, Third Estate, Chamber Deputies, French Revolution, Jacques RousseauÆs, Enlightenmentö French, Revolution Enlightenment, Chiosö Delacroix, French Bishops, french revolution, congress vienna, third estate, louis xvi, revolution chapter, political philosophy, ideals enlightenment, restoration revolution chapter, nations europe, europe including, revolution chapter 20, napoleonic code, chapter 20 pp, outcome congress vienna, 20 pp 705-737,
Approximate Word count = 4781
Approximate Pages = 19 (250 words per page)
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