In 1774, King Louis XVI made a decision that could have prevented the French Revolution by breathing new life into the French economy: he appointed Physiocrat Robert Turgot as Controller General of Finance. ... Embracing the principle of free trade not just as a temporary expedient, but as a philosophy, Turgot got the king to sign an edict in January 1776 that abolished the monopolies and special privileges of the guilds, corporations, and trading companies. ... Meanwhile, the king's new finance minister, Jacques Necker, a Swiss financial expert, delayed the effects of mercantilism by imp...

• Word Count: 2777
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The Bourbon king Louis XIV, the powerful monarch of the early seventeenth century (1661-1715), had been the most successful absolute monarch in history, but his grandiose imperial ambitions led to massive military failure and had left his country in economic ruin. ... The king knew that they could grant him the taxing authority he wanted but also knew that he would need to compromise his powers in doing so. ... The Magna Carta was a feudal document that was intended to limit the power of the king. The king of England at the time the Magna Carta was introduced and who signed it was King John. ...

• Word Count: 4395
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The Illusion of Utopia Matthew E. Hudson April 20, 2002 INTRODUCTION Since the beginning of history, man has tried to devise a perfect political system. Plato designed a utopian Republic, while Karl Marx radically changed the face of the earth by offering up a secular state that is supp...

• Word Count: 14382
• Approx Pages: 58