1. Economic Inequality:
- The French economy was in dire straits, with high taxes, widespread poverty, and a widening gap between the wealthy elite and the masses.
- The common people were burdened by heavy feudal dues and oppressive taxes, while the privileged aristocracy and clergy enjoyed tax exemptions.
2. Social Injustice:
- French society was highly stratified, with the clergy and nobles holding most of the power and privileges.
- Commoners were denied basic rights and opportunities, and resented their subordinate status.
- The system of privileges, monopolies, and guilds restricted social mobility and economic growth.
3. Political Oppression:
- France was an absolute monarchy, where King Louis XVI and his court exercised arbitrary power.
- The Estates-General, the French representative body, was dominated by the clergy and nobility, disregarding the interests of the common people.
- Censorship and control of information limited freedom of expression and prevented people from voicing their concerns.
4. Enlightenment Ideas:
- The Age of Enlightenment, which emphasized reason, individual rights, and political freedom, inspired French intellectuals and reformers.
- Enlightenment philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu challenged the traditional order and promoted democratic principles.
- These ideas spread among the educated classes and fueled demands for change.
5. Financial Crisis:
- The French government was deeply in debt, largely due to lavish spending by the court and involvement in costly wars.
- King Louis XVI's attempts to raise taxes and introduce reforms were met with resistance from the aristocracy, who feared losing their privileges.
- The failure of the government to solve the financial crisis heightened public discontent.
6. Bread Riots and Food Shortages:
- France experienced a series of poor harvests in the late 18th century, leading to grain shortages and spikes in food prices.
- Bread, the primary food staple, became scarce and expensive, causing widespread hunger among the urban population.
- The bread riots of 1789 were a direct response to these economic hardships.
7. Storming of the Bastille:
- On July 14, 1789, a crowd of Parisians stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal oppression.
- The capture of the Bastille marked the beginning of the French Revolution and galvanized the revolutionists' determination to overthrow the monarchy.
In conclusion, the French Revolution was sparked by a confluence of economic, social, political, and intellectual factors. The people's revolt was driven by a desire for social equality, political representation, and economic relief, ultimately leading to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a new republican government.