There were a series of bad harvests in France that contributed to the French Revolution, beginning in the 1780s. The harsh winters of 1784-1785 and 1788-1789 caused widespread crop failures, leading to a shortage of food and rising grain prices. This put a strain on the French peasantry, who already struggled under heavy taxation and feudal obligations. The bad harvests also contributed to inflation and economic instability, further exacerbating the growing social unrest in France.