France doesn't take part in the American Independence war, so the Kingdom is not bankrupt and the American insurgents loose the war because of a lack of resources. The people of France is not so poor but is fed up with the idle nobility and demands equality for everybody. Louis XVI, who never wanted to be the King, is too weak and is under considerable pressure from both the Tiers-Etat and the upper-aristocracy. The privileges are abolished but the neighbouring countries decide to attack the country (they express concern about revolutionary contagion). The King refuses to wage a war against Austria, Prussia, Spain or England so the National Assembly removes all the royal powers and organizes a referendum (only the wealthiest male property owners can vote) to establish a Republic.