1. Economic Hardship: The Third Estate, which mostly comprised peasants, artisans, and urban workers, faced economic hardship due to high taxes, rising food prices, and poor living conditions. They were overburdened with taxes and feudal obligations, while the clergy and nobility were exempt from many of these burdens.
2. Social Disparities: The social hierarchy in France was highly stratified, with the clergy and nobility enjoying privileges and social status that were denied to the Third Estate. The common people resented the social and economic disparities and desired more equality and representation.
3. Political Marginalization: The Third Estate had no meaningful political representation in the Estates-General, the body that advised the king on important matters. The other two estates, the clergy and the nobility, held the majority of power and often made decisions that were not in the best interests of the Third Estate.
4. Influence of Enlightenment Ideas: Enlightenment ideas such as liberty, equality, and the sovereignty of the people began to spread among the educated population of the Third Estate. These ideas challenged traditional social structures and inspired the common people to question the legitimacy of absolute monarchy.
5. Financial Crisis: France was in a severe financial crisis due to extravagant royal spending, costly military campaigns, and an inefficient tax system. The king increasingly resorted to borrowing money and raising taxes to cover his expenses, which further burdened the Third Estate.
6. Catalyst of the French Revolution: The immediate trigger for the Third Estate revolt was the Tennis Court Oath on June 20, 1789, when the representatives of the Third Estate and some liberal nobles pledged not to separate until they had created a new constitution for France. This defiance led to the National Constituent Assembly and ultimately ignited the French Revolution.
7. Urban Poverty: The Third Estate included many urban poor in cities like Paris, who lived in harsh conditions, lacked basic necessities like food and housing, and were exploited by the wealthy upper classes.
These factors combined to create a sense of collective grievance among the Third Estate and led them to revolt against the existing social, economic, and political system in France.