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 peoples 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, 1938
a) how is the \divine right theory\ defined, according to the text?
b) according to this document, what are two possible reasons why the french people revolted?

Explanation:

a) The text states that the divine - right theory held that the king, Louis XVI, had received his power to govern from God and was responsible to God alone.
b) One reason could be the king's arbitrary use of power such as arbitrary imprisonment through lettres de cachet. Another is his control over the expression of thought through strict censorship and his self - serving financial actions like levying taxes and spending as he saw fit while living in luxury at Versailles oblivious to popular discontent.

Answer:

a) The theory held that the king received his power to govern from God and was responsible to God alone.
b) Arbitrary imprisonment through lettres de cachet; strict censorship and self - serving financial actions while living in luxury and being oblivious to popular discontent.