Causes of the French Revolution

                                     There are four causes of the French Revolution.

     Political Causes:
   The French Revolution started in 1789. It was brought about by the discontent of French people with the government of Louis XVI (picture above). Louis XVI became the king of France in 1774. But he was not a good ruler. He lived in great luxury. His government was corrupt and inefficient. The corrupt and inefficient nature of his government led to the French Revolution.

      Social Causes:
    The French Revolution was brought about by class inequality. Before the revolution, French people were divided into three estates or classes.The clergy and the nobility formed the first two estates. They were rich and powerful. They filled most government posts.
       Most French people were the peasants and the bourgeoisie. They belonged to the Third Estate. They had to work for the first two estates. They paid most of the taxes to support the government. But they did not have a share in the power to rule.
       Most Third Estate people longed for an equal society. They wanted Louis XVI to end class inequality. But Louis XVI refused to make any change. The led to French Revolution.

      Economics Causes:
    The French Revolution was also brought about by economic factors. In the late 1780's, France wsr faced with a serious economic problem. This problem was mainly caused by the unfair taxation system. The Church and nobles owned a lot of land. But they paid few taxes.
       Louis XVI tried to solve the problem by asking the Church and nobles to pay more taxes. But they refused. The failure to solve the economic problem increased the people's discontent. This discontent led to the French Revolution

       Other Causes:
     Two other factors caused the French Revolution. The first one was the influence of Enlightenment thinkers. These thinkers such as Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau attacked the French government for its unfairness. They said people could rise against the king who ruled unfairly. Their idea of the right to revolt led to the French Revolution.
         The second one was the influence of the War of American Independence. Many French soldiers helped the Americans to fight Britain for equality and liberty. After the war, they returned to France with these ideas. These ideas soon spread among the bourgeoisie. This helped to bring about the French Revolution.

                                                                 
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