Answer:
The
outbreak of revolutionary protest in France was a culmination of social,
political, economic and intellectual factors
(i) Social Causes or Social Conditions
"Whenever we explain the causes of the French Revolution, we find that one
strong reason behind the revolution was the existing social division in France.
French society was divided into privileged and non-privileged sections. The
first estate and the second estate belonged to the privileged sections.
The first estate consisted of the clergy and the second estate comprised
the nobility. These two estates were exempt from payment of state taxes. The
third estate consisted of the lower and middle classes who bore the burden of
taxes. But they did not have any political rights and social status.
(ii) Political Causes Louis XVI, the king of France was an
autocratic, inefficient ruler who led a luxurious life with his queen Marie
Antoinette. People of France became tired of this ratter system of
administration and wanted a change.
(iii) Economic Causes The treasury of the king was empty
on account of long wars, involvement in the American War of Independence,
luxurious living of the king and faulty system of taxation.
(iv) Intellectual Causes Philosophers like Rousseau,
Voltaire and Montesquieu played a significant role. The ideas of these
philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee-houses and spread
among people through books and newspapers.
Forced by financial bankruptcy, Louis XVI was compelled to
call an assembly of the Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes in
1789. This time, voting method was not accepted by the third estate. They demanded
each member should have one vote. This controversy led to agitation among the
people which became the immediate cause of the French Revolution.
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