Louis XVI and

Marie Antoinette

What are their historical profiles

and to whom were these profiles

useful?

French Revolution Recap

Where

Why

When

What

Who

•What are the historical profiles of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI?

•To whom were these profiles useful?

•How do we understand leaders?

How well do we really know them?

Do they take on a persona for political reasons?

What are the differences for the revolutionaries of then, and

today?

Was always fashionably

dressed and spent public

money lavishly.

Well-prepared to become

the Queen of France when

she married Louis XVI at

age 14.

Used her influence with the

King to “hire and fire”

based on her personal

likes and dislikes of

individuals.

Represented a fading age

of chivalry and royal

romance.

Was seen as lacking in

formal education.

Marie Antoinette is remembered for

her success as a wife, mother, and

Queen of France.

Marie Antoinette’s main role was to

produce an heir to ensure the

continuation of her husband’s royal

line.

As the Queen of France, Marie

Antoinette was expectedto be

involved in leadership and decision

making activities along with her

husband, King Louis XVI.

Was criticized for not quickly

producing a male heir.

Like most royalty, she had a good

understanding of the everyday lives

of the French commoners.

Was well-prepared to become King.

Inherited a nation with excellent

cash flow and a strong history of

equality across class levels.

Was viewed as having little

understanding of the problems and

the people of the middle-and lower-

classes.

Was interested in history and

geography.

Suffered from extremely low

popularity as he offered few

solutions as opposition to the

monarchy grew.

Attempted to obtain foreign aid from

other monarchies in order to restore

his own.

Was known as “his royal hesitancy”.

Seemed uninterested in his wife and

was viewed as impotent as a

husband and as a leader.

Supported the old

regime to maintain

power and support of the

aristocrats.

Was a decisive leader

who did not shy away

from taking charge of his

court.

Lost all trust of the

French when he was

caught escaping during

the storming of the

Bastille.

Was prepared to

surrender his absolute

power immediately.

Called the Three Estates

together in an attempt to

solve the growing crisis.

Resources

•printed articles

•images

•text pages 65-67

Groups: monarchy, bourgeosie, church, aristocrats,

girondists, jacobins, foreign countries (America, England)

•What are the historical profiles of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI?

•To whom were these profiles useful?

•How do we understand leaders?

How well do we really know them?

Do they take on a persona for political reasons?

What are the differences for the revolutionaries of then, and

today?

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