Question: why was the american revolution a cause of the french revolution

title: Causes of the French Revolution
text: In Ancien Régime France , bread was the main source of food for poor peasants and the king was required to ensure the food supply of his subjects , the king was affectionately nicknamed le premier boulanger du royaume ( `` prime baker of the kingdom '' ) . During this period , the role of the royal police was far more involved than simply upholding the law . Police held responsibility over many systems in society , even street sweeping , it also exercised a strict control over food supply . In order to maintain social order , the grain market was submitted to harsh rules to ensure the quality of the bread and its availability at all time and for the entire population . Grain merchants were viewed with suspicion , they were called `` the most cruel enemies of the people '' because they were suspected to mix flour with other products ( such as chalk or crushed bones ) or to hoard grains to raise artificially the prices of this vital commodity . The Ancien Régime favoured a `` moral economy '' where cupidity was moderated by strict regulations . The police controlled the purity of the flour and made sure that no one would hide grains to drive up prices . Food scarcity was common in the 18th century , but the grain police would forbid exportations from regions facing bad harvests and would import grain from regions enjoying overproduction . It could also force a merchant to dump the price of his flour ( he was later compensated for his loss in times of abundance ) .