To What Extent Was Louis Xvi The Main Cause For The Outbreak Of The French Revolution In 1789?

My research question on whether Louis XVI caused the French Revolution will investigate the reasons why Louis is blamed and investigate other reasons why France resulted to a revolution in 1789. I feel this is an appropriate research question on the topic because there are various interpretations and causes discussed about for the past three hundred years as to why the revolution took place. The French revolution was the first of its kind in the world so I wanted to evaluate the causes for an important revolution which changed society socially, economically and politically.

I looked at different historian's interpretations of the revolution's causes and how views changed over time. I saw whether there was any agreement between historians as to who is to blame for the outbreak of the revolution: whether it was Louis XVI or other factors such as the country's financial crisis, the country's corrupt society and the impact of the Enlightenment. A number of primary and secondary sources were evaluated to see if there was any agreement between the findings of who is to blame for the outbreak of the revolution. Early Marxist historical interpretations believed the revolution was caused by a social struggle, whereas modern Revisionist interpretations believed the revolution was caused by political problems.

Therefore I concluded that Louis XVI was not the main cause for the outbreak, because there were a variety of different factors which accumulated the tension within eighteenth century France and finally revolution broke out in 1789. Louis XVI did not help improve his image during the latter years of his reign and some historians blame Louis XVI primarily because of his lack of leadership and weak decision making, but other historians see other reasons like the ever increasing and angry Third Estate were at a point of revolution.