How Did France Move Close To Revolution

The developing problems in France caused the country to move closer and closer towards Revolution. In 1789, France was under the control of King Louis XVI. He was married to Marie Antoinette. At the time, France’s social and political system was the Old Regime. In the Old Regime, there was the Estates System which divided the people of France into three estates. The First Estate consisted of the clergy. The nobles were in the Second Estate and the peasants, bourgeoisie, and urban lower class made up the Third Estate. In 1789, there was a bad harvest that caused an increase to the price of bread and a bread shortage. Many of the poorer people in France ate bread because it was filling and cheap, but after the price increase, some could not afford
In France, the Estates System organized people into Estates based on their titles/positions. The First Estate consisted of the clergy. The nobles were in the Second Estate. Peasants, bourgeoisie, and the urban lower class made up the Third Estate. The people of the Third Estate had to pay almost half of their income to taxes, while the First Estate had to pay two percent of their income for taxes and the Second Estate did not have to pay any taxes. Also, in some areas, peasants had to pay seigneurial dues to the nobility for administration and protection. Many complained that the dues became exorbitant. Many peasants ate bread because it was filling and cheap, but a bad harvest caused bread prices to rise. Many were unable to buy bread because of the elevated price, resulting in starvation. As believed by the community of Lignere la Doucelle, “For a long time now, the inhabitants have been crushed beneath the excessive burden of the multiplicity of taxes that they have been obliged to pay” (Document C). The dues that the peasants of Lignere la Doucelle had to pay were excessive and resulted in many of them struggling financially. The peasants were “crushed” with the amount that they had to pay, which was unfair because others, who were richer, did not have to pay the same dues. In Arthur Young’s Travels in France During the Years 1787, 1788, and 1789, Arthur Young, an Englishman, recorded, “they [a woman and her husband] had to pay a tax of 42 pounds of wheat, and three chicken, to one noble and 168 pounds of oats, one chicken and 1 sou [small unit of money] to another” (Document G). The taxes that the women and her husband had to pay were excessive. In addition, it was unfair because as a poor couple, they had to pay an unreasonable amount while those who are richer had to pay less. With large payments to the nobles, peasants had less money for food. After bread prices rose due to