Historians have long debated over Marie Antoinette the last Dauphin of France’s liability in the ignition of the French Revolution. The debate gyres around whether Marie Antoinette was responsible for the Revolution or as to whether there were other factors if not even more significant which contributed to the end of the Bourbon Dynasty. The following essay will be investigating the extent of Marie Antoinette’s liability within the French Revolution and identify as to whether the Dauphin was at fault, or not. Historian and author Erin Jansen and Joe McGasko blame the Dauphin’s (1) extravagant lifestyle, and the fact that she was Austrian, as the catalyst behind why Marie Antoinette was impetus for the Revolution. On the opposing side, Historians
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Firstly, during the 18th century France was a country under economic strife, this was because the country had engaged in a number of expensive wars and conflicts including, The Seven Years War and the American War of Independence, which resulted in the country 's treasury becoming drained and in debt. Secondly, the country 's primary economic source was 75% agriculture but the harvest failed, a food shortage became prevalent and food prices increased creating more hardships for the lives of the working class with people suffering from hunger and others of starvation. France was on the verge of bankruptcy and the people became worried and agitated for the future of their country and its harvest. Whilst all of this was happening, the aristocrats continued to spend exorbitantly on unnecessary goods, such as Marie Antoinette 's gambling, constant refurbishment of the palace of Versailles, partying and King Louis XVI 's gift of the estate of Le Petit Trianon to his Dauphin. It was clear to see that Marie Antoinette 's private life was a combination of scandals both sexual and monetary, soiree and turbulent which earnt her the nickname 'Madame Deficit ' 'suggesting that her spending was responsible for the national debt ' (alpha history). The Dauphine 's constant spending during the pandemonium the people of France endured, sparked an outrage as some of the bourgeoisie and the working class became frustrated at how she continued to live an easy life and spend excess amount of money on trivial matters, such as the redesigning of her estate gardens at Le Petit Trianon to suit her new taste whilst the people in the working class struggled to even keep clothes on their backs. This is best illustrated
Firstly, during the 18th century France was a country under economic strife, this was because the country had engaged in a number of expensive wars and conflicts including, The Seven Years War and the American War of Independence, which resulted in the country 's treasury becoming drained and in debt. Secondly, the country 's primary economic source was 75% agriculture but the harvest failed, a food shortage became prevalent and food prices increased creating more hardships for the lives of the working class with people suffering from hunger and others of starvation. France was on the verge of bankruptcy and the people became worried and agitated for the future of their country and its harvest. Whilst all of this was happening, the aristocrats continued to spend exorbitantly on unnecessary goods, such as Marie Antoinette 's gambling, constant refurbishment of the palace of Versailles, partying and King Louis XVI 's gift of the estate of Le Petit Trianon to his Dauphin. It was clear to see that Marie Antoinette 's private life was a combination of scandals both sexual and monetary, soiree and turbulent which earnt her the nickname 'Madame Deficit ' 'suggesting that her spending was responsible for the national debt ' (alpha history). The Dauphine 's constant spending during the pandemonium the people of France endured, sparked an outrage as some of the bourgeoisie and the working class became frustrated at how she continued to live an easy life and spend excess amount of money on trivial matters, such as the redesigning of her estate gardens at Le Petit Trianon to suit her new taste whilst the people in the working class struggled to even keep clothes on their backs. This is best illustrated