What did Louis XVI's Flight to Varennes (1791) reveal about the revolution's direction?

• A. It reinforced confidence in the king and his authority.
• B. It led to immediate reconciliation with revolutionary factions.
• C. It confirmed the king's willingness to cooperate with reformists.
• D. It undermined confidence in the king and pushed toward a republic or stronger constitutional framework.

Answer: (D)

The Flight to Varennes showed that the monarchy could not be trusted to honor a constitutional settlement or work with revolutionary reform. By attempting to flee with the aim of seeking foreign help, Louis XVI revealed real sympathy for counterrevolutionary forces and a willingness to bypass the National Assembly. Being intercepted and brought back to Paris shattered belief in a cooperative king, boosting fear of a restoration and hardening attitudes toward change. This eroded support for a limited monarchy and pushed the revolution toward a more radical path, toward a republic or at least a much stronger constitutional framework that curtailed royal power.