WI: Louis XV's Son Survives?

Historically, Louis XV of France was the great grandson of Louis XIV. His ancestors had died before they had a chance to succeed Louis XIV. Louis XV's heir looked like he would break that unlucky streak until his untimely death in 1765 of tuberculosis, making his son the new heir. And we all know how well that turned out.
So, how might this alternate Louis XVI's rule have turned out, assuming Louis XV dies roughly (give or take a few years) on schedule from OTL?
 
SavoyTruffle said:
Not very different, but I'd assume that being older he declines to be as involved in the ARW as his son.

Not so sure. The Dauphin Louis (thus TTL Louis XVI) might actually be able to handle the situation a bit better than OTL Louis XVI who was his eldest son. He has a bit of experience (he was Dauphin from the moment of his birth, unlike OTL Louis XVI who found himself Dauphin 9 years before Louis XV died), has been properly formed to be King (unlike OTL Louis XVI whose education was rushed, though he completed it himself later) and, unlike his son, doesn't lack guts (that was one of OTL Louis XVI's main problem).

Two great questions will arise during his reign: the American Revolutionnary War and the Economic Crisis that lead to the French Revolution. Regarding the first, it's possible he refuses to enter the War because of the cost it could have. On the other hand, it's a good occasion to give Britain a nice ass-kicking after the Seven Years War...
As for the second, he could deal with the situation better. If France doesn't take part in the ARW, the crisis will be less important and would technically only reached the scale it had a few years later than OTL: this might give him more time to deal with it. If France did took part in the ARW, he might deal with the situation better than OTL Louis XVI. At best, we get a Reformed French Monarchy (maybe Constitutional), at worts with a delayed French Revolution.
 
Well if he has a bit more guts then OTL XVI he would likely not be talked into repealing the taxes on the nobility that Louis XV put in place.
 
Two great questions will arise during his reign: the American Revolutionnary War and the Economic Crisis that lead to the French Revolution. Regarding the first, it's possible he refuses to enter the War because of the cost it could have. On the other hand, it's a good occasion to give Britain a nice ass-kicking after the Seven Years War...
That could very well ruin any ATL American Revolution. Without France, Spain won't intervene. I doubt the Americans could succeed without foreign intervention.

Well if he has a bit more guts then OTL XVI he would likely not be talked into repealing the taxes on the nobility that Louis XV put in place.
Are there any good (preferably free) sources that detail the French budget at the time?
 
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