The causes of the French Revolution can be narrowed to five main factors: the Estate System, absolutism, Enlightenment ideas, food shortages, and the American Revolution.

The Estate System placed people into groups based on birth and was known as the Ancien Regime. The First Estate was made up of the clergy who led the Catholic church. They were the smallest group and paid no taxes. The higher clergy like bishops enjoyed many benefits, while the lower clergy were common priests and nuns.

The Second Estate consisted of the nobility and was less than 2% of France’s population. They were also exempt from taxes and having to perform work for the government.

Most of France’s population belonged to the Third Estate. Most were free peasants while others were urban laborers, including the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie were France’s educated middle class. They, like the rest of the Third Estate resented having to pay taxes to support the other Estates and having little say in government.