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French society was deeply unequal: the clergy and nobility held privileges, while the Third Estate paid most taxes and included the middle class, peasants, and urban workers.
The French Revolution originated from a combination of long-term social inequalities, political weaknesses, economic hardship, and financial crisis. French society was divided into three estates, with the clergy and nobility enjoying significant privileges while the Third Estate, which represented the vast majority of the population, carried most of the tax burden. The growth of the population and middle class increased social tensions, while peasants and wage workers faced declining living standards, feudal dues, and rising food prices. During the late 1780s, poor harvests, economic recession, unemployment, and expensive bread intensified public distress. The monarchy also faced severe financial problems after costly wars, especially support for the American Revolution, while an inefficient and unequal tax system failed to generate sufficient revenue. Attempts by ministers such as Calonne and Brienne to introduce reforms were blocked by the nobility, parlements, and other privileged groups. Enlightenment ideas about liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty, together with the example of the American Revolution and scandals involving the royal court, further weakened confidence in the monarchy. The resulting deadlock forced Louis XVI to summon the Estates-General in 1789, creating the political crisis that began the Revolution.
French society was deeply unequal: the clergy and nobility held privileges, while the Third Estate paid most taxes and included the middle class, peasants, and urban workers.
Population growth, economic recession, poor harvests, unemployment, and high bread prices created widespread social distress in the late 1780s.
The monarchy's financial crisis was worsened by war debts, an inefficient tax system, exemptions for privileged groups, and resistance to reform by the nobility and regional parlements.
Enlightenment ideas and the American Revolution encouraged demands for liberty, equality, representation, and constitutional government.
Political deadlock and Louis XVI's indecisive leadership led to the convocation of the Estates-General in May 1789, which became the immediate catalyst for revolutionary action.
The traditional political and social system of France before the Revolution, characterized by monarchy, estates, and inherited privileges.
The vast majority of the French population, including the bourgeoisie, peasants, artisans, and urban workers, who lacked the privileges of the first two estates.
A representative assembly of the clergy, nobility, and Third Estate summoned by Louis XVI in 1789 to address the financial crisis.
Regional judicial bodies that could obstruct royal legislation, including proposed tax reforms.
An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individual rights, liberty, equality, and popular participation in government.
The monarchy's inability to balance revenue and expenditure because of war debts, inefficient taxation, and resistance to reform.
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