When Louis XVI became King of France in 1774, he was only 20 years old. As the yearspassed, he learned how to rule better. Then he began to make changes. He abolished theage old practice of feudalism. The calling of the Estates-General was another change in theFrench government which he introduced. When the monarchy was abolished, he saw it assomething that would help his country. All of Louis actions were attempts to achieve onegoal. Louis XVI tried to please the French people and prevent the French Revolution. For many centuries, a feudal system had been in use in France. The peasants and serfswere at the bottom of this system. They made up 75% of the population. The NationalAssembly (formerly the Estates-General) voted to abolish feudalism in 1789. The NationalAssembly declared their law "entirely abolishes the feudal system". Earlier, Louis XVI hadset the precedent for this event. In 1779, he abolished feudalism on his Crown lands. Healso allowed serfs to pass on their land to anyone they chose to. Previously, the land hadto be passed on to their children. Abolition of feudalism gave the peasants in France morefreedom. The actions of Louis XVI and the National Assembly were done to please themajority of the French people: the peasants and serfs. Having the ideas of the French people in the French government would make thegovernment closer to the people. A system with representatives from all the provinces ofFrance would accomplish that deed. Louis XVI achieved this by calling theEstates-General into the government in May 1789. This was a group of peers and deputiesfrom towns and provinces across France. They had not been used in the government since1614. They were originally put on an equal level with the King. The King had to approveall the laws that were to be passed. The commoners had one of the three votes in theEstates-General, so they had their say. Laws were passed by the Estates-General andNational Assembly, including remo...
