Question

powers of the king.—the king, louis xvi, was absolute. he ruled by the divine right theory which held that he had received his power to govern from god and was therefore responsible to god alone. he appointed all civil officials and military officers. he made and enforced the laws. he could declare war and make peace. he levied taxes and spent the people’s money as he saw fit. he controlled the expression of thought by a strict censorship of speech and press. by means of lettres de cachet (sealed letters which were really blank warrants for arrest) he could arbitrarily imprison anyone without trial for an indefinite period. he lived in his magnificent palace at versailles, completely oblivious to the rising tide of popular discontent. source: friedman & foner, a genetic approach to modern european history, college entrance book co., 1938 1. base on this document, explain friedmans & foners point of view on the cause of the french revolution. your answer

Explanation:

The document shows Louis XVI's absolute power - ruling by divine right, controlling appointments, laws, war - peace, taxes, and suppressing free speech. His obliviousness to popular discontent likely contributed to the French Revolution. Friedman and Foner seem to imply that the king's autocratic rule and disregard for the people were causes.

Answer:

Friedman and Foner likely view Louis XVI's autocratic rule, including his use of divine - right theory, control over various aspects of governance, and suppression of freedoms, along with his obliviousness to popular discontent, as causes of the French Revolution.