Marc Hinther, age 9, of Enid, Okla., for his question:

WHAT CAUSED THE FRENCH REVOLUTION?

France contributed money and supplies for the American Revolution. In 1787 the king's treasury was empty, and the nation's high court rebelled against the king. More money could be raised only by calling a meeting of the States General, the French national assembly, which hadn't met since 1614. The king called another meeting on May 4, 1789.

Commerce and industry grew rapidly in France during the 1700s, and a new class of merchants and manufacturers started to gain wealth. But the French social organization and government, which had developed during the Middle Ages, made no acknowledgement or changes which might have made room for the new class.

Noblemen lived in great luxury while many of the French peasants did not have enough food to eat. Many felt the hardship of a system of taxation that was not fair since only members of the middle and lower classes were taxed while members of the clergy and nobility were excused.

Many of the people from the middle and lower classes began talking about the new idea of freedom. Many learned men felt that perhaps government was not a thing kings should administer by divine right. They suggested that it was an agreement to be shared by the ruler and the people. Believing they were hampered by ancient legal, political a rd religious institutions, the people of the middle and lower classes began to organize and prepare for revolution.

The0 year period between 1789 and 1799 was a time of str ggle and violence in France. The French Revolution started when King Louis XVI called the States General to provide money for his bankrupt government and ended 70 years later when Napoleon Bonaparte became the first consul and dictator of France.

During the revolution thousands of aristocrats, including the king and queen, were led to their death on the guillotine.

The revolution was caused by the rise of the lower and middle classes and the bad leadership from the royal family. When Louis XVI succeeded his grandfather, Louis XV, on the throne, he refused to follow the advice of his ministers to make sorely needed reforms. Louis XV had been wasteful, inefficient and very selfish. The problems were not corrected until the bloody revolution had run its course.

Revolutionary fervor died down a bit in 1795, although France's financial affairs continued to be in bad shape and the country was threatened by enemies abroad and dissatisfied citizens at home. Most people believed that a strong central government was needed. Napoleon, who was in Egypt, returned unexpectedly in 1799 to end the revolution and make himself dictator of France.