When people go hungry, they go crazy, and no country has experienced this like France. The economy in France was spiraling after the death of King Louis XV and leaving a young and irresponsible Louis XVI in charge. Louis XVI had many opportunities to save France from the impending economic depression by taxing the nobles, so that financial responsibility would not fall on the lower classes (Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution). This dark period in France's history cost the lives of over 20,000 people and even the leaders of the revolution. The French government was in a weak and vulnerable position after the Revolution and was ripe for a change of leadership. In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte, launched a successful coup and took control. The French mercantilist system was failing and Louis XIV worked hard to hold France to high standards, but the system itself was collapsing. When Louis XV came to power, he knew that he could only lead the country, but not save it, he even said: “After me, the flood” (Nary). He died and left the throne to his nephew Louis XVI, in 1774. Louis XVI married the Austrian princess Marie Antoinette and together they continued to draw on the monetary resources of France. This element is presented, in the book, by the Marquis' brothers. This was seen with Evremonde's older, more responsible brother in command and then with the passing of power to the younger, very irresponsible one. While the younger one raped a girl and killed her brother, the older one tried to save them by asking Doctor Manette to save them, but the doctor failed. When his conscience caught up with him and he attempted to speak, they sent him to the Bastille, to ensure the "purity" of the family name (Dickens ch. 10). The leadership of both the nobility and the royal family contributed to the hostile environment created in France before Louis hired two renowned French economists to try to balance the budget, but they both told him the same thing: he had to tax the nobles. Louis was weak, so when he proposed the idea to the nobles, and they said no, he conceded. After pressure from the Parliament of Paris, Louis summoned the French equivalent of Parliament, the Estates General after over 100 years of adjournment to force the nobles to pay. Within two weeks, Louis dissolves the Estates General for the more democratic National Assembly, led by the sympathetic priest Sieyes. This is the group behind the famous tennis court oath, according to which some nobles will work effortlessly, until a constitution is drafted that includes equality for all French citizens (Marie Antoinette and the French Revolution). However, there were bread riots spreading throughout France, so fearing a riot in Paris, Louis called in the army for safety. The ordinary revolutionary in France faced the army and feared a counter-revolution. They go to the local prison to arm themselves. When the citizens went to the Bastille, they managed to communicate with the prison governor, but when worried guards fired a shot, all hell broke loose. The rebels stormed the prison and demolished the building stone by stone. They freed seven prisoners and took only a few weapons. The governor of the Bastille, De Launay, was