Question

Describe the circumstances that led to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.

Answer 1

Social factors:
(i) Division of French Society into three Estates.
(ii) 60% of land owned by nobles, church and rich members of the First and Second Estate.
(iii) All taxes paid by the members of the Third Estate and the first two Estates, i.e., clergy and nobility exempted from taxes.
Political factors:
(iv) Louis XVI, an Autocratic ruler.
(v) Depleted treasury by extravagant living and financial help to 13 American colonies.
(vi) To meet the regular expenses of administration started taxing the Third Estate and even increased the taxes.