Historians have long debated the causes of the French Revolution. This may be because it results from a multitude of factors rather than just one. A combination of several social, political, and economic causes led to the upheaval of the Ancien Régime, the system of law and government in France before the French Revolution of 1789. In the 18th century, French society was divided into three classes, or domains: the clergy, the nobility and the people. The clergy were called the First Estate, while the nobility and the people were called the Second and Third Estates respectively. This social system in France was so corrupt that a few, the First and Second Estate, held all the power while the majority, the Third Estate, suffered. The first two estates had many privileges over the Third Estate, the most important being paying fewer taxes. The intendants responsible for collecting taxes in the administrative districts that divide France often bend the rules at will to benefit family or friends because of the enormous power they wield. As a result, those who didn't have much to begin with had even more taxes imposed on them (Young). In addition, they had certain expenses, such as one that prevented peasants from killing animals that destroyed their crops simply to preserve them as game for the nobles. Additionally, they also controlled the courts and local government (Young). Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes, a French clergyman and political writer of the time, described government as “the patrimony of a particular class, it has been stretched beyond all measure; the places were not created because of...... middle of paper ......). Additionally, France experienced bad weather and poor harvests during 1788, which caused rising prices and unemployment. This was followed by a harsh winter in which many people died of starvation, which led to food riots and only increased public dissent against the crown. The French Revolution was caused by problems inherent to France such as social inequality, an ineffective monarchy and financial crisis and was fueled by the ideas of the Enlightenment. Perhaps this could have been avoided entirely if the monarchy had worked harder to reform the country before it was too late, or perhaps it would have simply delayed the revolution. Regardless, it is undeniable that the French Revolution had far-reaching effects. It inspired subsequent revolutions and gave rise to a host of new ideas about the rights of the individual and the obligations of a country to its citizens..