French Revolution Causes 1 Old Regime The Three Estates First Estate Church owned 10 percent land paid 2 percent in taxes Second Estate Nobles owned 20 percent of land and paid 1 percent taxes Third Estate 98 percent of population working class merchants paid half to taxes The third Estate was out numbered in voting and wanted to have voting with population so everyone was counted they were exploited 2 Economic Problems Population Growth Business could not make money because of high taxes Bad Weather Drought led to famine poor crops The price of bread doubled too expensive for third estate and it was the main source of food 3 Weak Leader Lois XVI spent too much money borrowed to help America defeat Britain Indecisive Did not want to govern his country 4 Marie Antoinette Spent Millions 5 Enlightenment Inspired peasants to revolt 6 American Revolution Inspired peasants served as a model of freedom 7 Dept Desperation Bad Economy RjR