What were the causes of the French revolution?

Answer 1

Wars with England, Prussia, Russia and Spain over the last 100 years left Economic bankruptcy, widespread contempt of the French monarchy and hatred of the Austrian Queen Marie Antoinette. National debt resulted in increasing taxes to pay of national debts, while small ordinary farmers were tied to the large holdings of land by the Church and the nobility.

To resolve the problems, Louis XVI called together the Estates General - which had been disbanded 100 years earlier - and when the assembly of the people from all socio-economic classes came together - all hell broke loose, with increasing demands that Louis XVI and the Bourbons should abdicate from the monarchy.

The sacking of the French minister Necker, who was in charge of the economy, was a sign that the French king was giving into the demands of the Estates General and popular will - a sign of weakness.

The Third estate - the ordinary people formed their own assembly and demanded the forming of a constitution. Fearful that Louis XVI would use the military to crush the rebellion, the assembly stormed the infamous Bastille, in which political prisioners were kept. The successful storming of the Bastile was a rallying point that the monarchy was weak and lacked support from all levels of society.

Answer 2

the French

Answer 3

Starving peasants, unequal taxation, unequal representation in the Estates General, and a bankrupt treasury.

Answer 4

Poor crops. Hunger. Famine.

Answer 5

Economic down-fall thanks to nobility paying little taxes and poor being greatly over taxed.