Question

Почему Людовик 16 созвал генеральные штаты?

Answer 1

Генеральные Штаты собирали налоги в казну и на военные расходы, а также в чрезвычайных ситуациях.
При Людовике XVI как раз создалась чрезвычайная ситуация - возник жесточайший кризис (в том числе финансовый - не было денег, а долги Франции росли) . Попытка решить проблемы с помощью парламента венчались провалом. Парламент был распущен и созваны королем Генеральные Штаты...

Answer 2

Why did Louis XVI convene the Estates-General?

Louis XVI convened the Estates-General in 1789. The Estates-General was a representative assembly in France that consisted of three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. The decision to convene the Estates-General was influenced by several factors.

1. Financial Crisis: One of the main reasons for convening the Estates-General was the severe financial crisis faced by the French government at the time. France was burdened with a large national debt, primarily due to the cost of wars and extravagant spending by the monarchy. Louis XVI hoped that the Estates-General could help find a solution to the financial crisis and propose reforms to stabilize the economy.

2. Desire for Reform: The French society was undergoing significant changes, and there was a growing demand for political and social reforms. The commoners, who made up the majority of the population, were particularly dissatisfied with their limited political representation and the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and nobility. Convening the Estates-General was seen as an opportunity to address these grievances and initiate reforms.

3. Tradition and Precedent: The convening of the Estates-General was also influenced by historical precedent. The Estates-General had not been convened since 1614, and it was considered a traditional way to seek the advice and consent of the different estates in times of crisis. Louis XVI saw it as a means to involve the various segments of society in decision-making and to gain their support for necessary reforms.

It is important to note that while these factors contributed to the decision to convene the Estates-General, the outcome of the assembly did not go as expected. The convening of the Estates-General eventually led to the French Revolution, as the commoners, dissatisfied with the limited influence they had in the assembly, formed the National Assembly and initiated significant political and social changes in France.