Join us as we go over the years preceding the French Revolution, France was rife with social, economic, and political tensions. The monarchy, led by Louis XVI, faced deep financial crises exacerbated by excessive spending, wars, and a regressive tax system that burdened the common people while exempting the nobility and clergy. Social inequality was rampant, with the privileged classes enjoying lavish lifestyles at the expense of the impoverished Third Estate. Additionally, Enlightenment ideas questioning the legitimacy of monarchy and advocating for liberty, equality, and fraternity spread throughout the nation, fueling discontent among intellectuals and the populace. As grievances mounted and calls for reform went unheeded, simmering resentment boiled over into revolution in 1789. Sources:

The History Channel: The French Revolution https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/french-revolution#

The History Channel: This Day in History July 14th, 1789 French revolutionaries storm the bastille https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-revolutionaries-storm-bastille

Britannica: storming of the bastille: https://www.britannica.com/event/storming-of-the-Bastille

Britannica: French Revolution: https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution

Swansea University: The long and Short reasons for Why Revolution broke out in France in 1789, A study guide by Swansea University Historians: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/history/history-study-guides/the-long-and-short-reasons-for-why-revolution-broke-out-in-france-in-1789/