What tensions led to the French Revolution?

There were many tensions during the French Revolution, a couple of which would be Marie Antoinette who was spending much of France's money on riches such as jewelry and clothes which caused France to become poor. Louis XVI (the great-great-grandson of the "Sun King", King Louis XIV) became king and had poor leadership and put France into major debt. He was a very young king who didn't know much on what to do with the country or how to lead it and he claimed he had a divine right to rule France and do exactly what he pleased. The peasants were tired of being mistreated and they wanted equal rights which led to the revolution.

#1- In this picture Marie Antoinette is about to face the guillotine, in other words her execution. This would be one of the outcomes of the French Revolution.

#2- In this picture is King Louis XVI's head which was cut off by the guillotine, on January 1793. His execution is another outcome of the French Revolution.

How does the desire for equality lead to change?

Equality leads to change because when there's a large amount of people wanting a change they revolt. Peasants wanted the right to be treated properly so they revolted and fought for this right; they got what they wanted, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen which established the fundamental rights of French citizens that included everyone without exception.

#3- This is the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, which was created in 1790.

#4-In this picture you will see the war which caused the Fall of Bastille July 14th, 1789. When the common people heard about soldiers coming they didn't want to submit so they figured out they needed gun powder in order to fight. They mobbed the royal prison in Paris, the Bastille, and freed the seven prisoners inside, chopped of the prison keeper's head and stuck it on a pike then ran throughout the streets with it. In France, the Fall of Bastille is a holiday on July 14th.

What influences some to "abuse" power?

What might influence a leader to abuse power would be fame and fortune along with having all the control and power over the people.

#5- This is an execution during the Reign of Terror, during this time there were many executions which gives it the name. There was much blood and death.

#6- This is Robespierre he was the head of the Committee of Public Safety (National Convention) and had the power to arrest anyone who was disloyal and could put them to death. A new law was passed called the Law of Suspected Persons which called for the execution of anyone against the revolution. Marie Antoinette was the first person convicted under this law. Robespierre started the Reign of Terror and the Nation Convention thought he had too much power and he was later sent to the guillotine in 1794.