Historical Trivea about 20 January...

[HawkerHurricane]

212 years ago, on 20 January 1793,
Louis XVI was sentenced to death for crimes against the people:

1) Involving his country in a costly foreign war;
2) Shifting more taxes from the rich, and onto the middle-class and poor;
3) Spending outrageous sums on festivities, while many of his people were suffering.

He was guillotined the next day.
-

(I always think it is an interesting historical fact that we inaugurate the President on the anniversery of this event. May it be a caution to him and his aristocratic friends.)

[Yupster]

1. I saw the history channel special on the French Revolution

just last night.

Incredible the way it spun out of controll, but was still able to hang on.

I'm surprised the army didn't step in and end the Reign of Terror at some point.

[HawkerHurricane]

2. They couldn't

The standing army was very small, and were badly outnumbered by the mob.

AND

While the officers were mostly noblemen (or at least wealthy), the enlisted men were poor folks, many from cities... they couldn't be trusted to not JOIN the revolution.