MARIE ANTOINETTE by Morgan Darling

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-Marriage to Louis XVI

• On first impression, French people were easily charmed by her beauty and personality
• at Court the marriage was controversial due to long-standing tensions between Austria ( where she was from) and France
• Louis uninterested in her
• to make up for lack of affection from husband and criticism from mother, Antoinette spent much time on gambling, clothing, and jewelry


-Politics/Reign

• had little political influence with husband due to Louis's anti-austrian opinions
• Extravagant spender even though tremendous debt incurred by France during the Seven Years' War
• Austrian background seemed to reaffrim Franco-Austrian Alliance
• Public had a frivolous opinion of her

-diamond necklace affair

• Turned Anti-Austrian politically

-French Revolution

• Assassintation threats
• failed escape plan

-planned to escape France and go to Montmédy but was found and the royal family was taken back to Paris

• France declared war on Austria which made Marie seem like an enemy
• committee of public safety decided she needed to be guillotined

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette