The revolutionary protest in France 1789 was due to poor economic situations, several forms of social injustices, political inefficiency and as influenced by the enlightenment.

Economic crises for instance acted a major part. Other primary reasons included years of expensive wars up to the involvement in what was known as the American Revolution that bankrupted the royal treasury. People were starving to death because food prices began to rise when crops failed in the late 1780s, and many citizens continued to be impoverished with frustrated rage. Meanwhile, taxes laid were heavy particularly on the peasantry and middle class while noble and clergy enjoyed immunities.

Social equality proved to worsen the situation. The rigid estate system divided society into three groups: the Clergy, the Nobility, and the Tiers État or the Third State. The Third Estate comprised peasants, urban aristocracy, and the increasing middle class while enjoying a numerical dominance; it was politically powerless.

Rising political decisions that were made by King Louis XVI and his governing body also added to the problem. Some of the undertake to modify the system of taxes and solve the financial problem of the monarchy failed as well as the calling of the Estates-General in 1789 indicated that there were elucidations. Feeling unrepresented, the Third Estate could refuse the monarch’s authority and called itself the National Assembly.

It became decentralized for the people to demand change due to enlightening ideas such as liberty, equality and popular sovereignty heralded revolution.