Overthrow of the monarchy in 1789. http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution

Causes:

Fiscal/political

• There was huge National Debt from the silly reign of Louis and the [Seven Years War].

• The nobility had been paying no taxes

• With the government unable to borrow any more money, the king tried to tax the nobility.

• But they had enough political power to block that process

• Which make the lack of [Absolute Power] of the monarchy more clear

• Which may have reinforced existing demands of the middle/lower classes for more power

• Leading to a stalemate with the nobles who didn't want to give up any of their power or wealth

• But the populists were moving toward setting up a constitutional government

• But the king closed down that process and banished Necker (who had been in the middle of the process) - this was seen as a coup by the old regime, and violence started.

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