The French Revolution was a complex event with many causes, but some of the most important include:

• Social inequality: In the late 18th Century, French society was made up of three estates; namely, the clergy, the nobles, and the Third Estate. There were certain privileges enjoyed by the first two estates; for instance, exemption from paying many taxes without any say in politics, yet the Third Estate paid almost all taxes and was left with no authority in politics. The prevailing unbalance prompted the masses’ discontent.
• Economic problems: As the end of the eighteenth century approached, France experienced an economic meltdown. There were major borrowings by the government and many people experienced hunger. This situation was made worse by several poor harvests in the years before the Revolution.
• Enlightenment ideas: Enlightenment was an intellectual revolution that valued rationalism, freedom, and egalitarianism. Some such as Voltaire and Rousseau believed that all men were born free and equal with a right to govern themselves. Many people in France were moved by these ideas and demanded change as well.
• Political absolutism: Absolute monarchy in France means that the monarch was everything. It had King Louis XVI who was feeble, unassertive, and powerless in addressing France’s challenges. That created more discontent amongst the monarchs.
• The French took to their heels in 1789 and kicked away the monarchy. There were a number of significant developments that took place after the Revolution among them being the abolishment of the feudalistic system, the setting up of constitutional monarchy, and the declaration on the rights of man and citizen.

This is one of the most significant events in the history of the World. This revolution also created a precedent that influenced other revolutions across the globe and upheld the principles of liberty, equality, and brotherhood.