Political Causes

•Louis XVI-king, leader of the monarchy. He was not a strong leader and followed the age-old traditions of spending money lavishly while all expenses falling to the tax payers to cover the expenses
• The Monarchy was not limited in control by a constitution as those of other countries of the time. The king had ultimate control.
• Due to the poor economics and multitude of problems, King Louis XVI called a meeting of the general estates for the first time in over 150 years.
• The third estate saw inequality in the voting system of the estates general previously and demanded a change. When that change was denied by the king as it took power from the nobles, the third estate changed its name to the National Assembly. They proclaimed to end absolute monarchy and to begin representative government.