complaints in 1780s

  • Third Estate

    • no political voice

    • textile industry fell → unemployment ^^

    • taxes (burden fell on the poor)

    • poor relief not being used properly

    • parisian workers spending 88% of wages on bread by ‘89

    • unfair court system

    • poor harvests (1788 particularly)

    • not enough land to farm sustainably

  • people in central govt not appointed due to likeability

  • conflict between parlement + king (remonstrance + lit de justice)

  • absolute monarchy

  • big differences in wealth (both first estate and france as a whole)

  • tension between intendants and provincial governors

  • marie antoinette

    • too much influence

    • no children (for a long time)

    • spent too much money

  • guild system - too rigid

  • church has too much power