The key cause of the French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a combination of social, economic, and political factors, primarily stemming from widespread discontent with the monarchy and the unequal class system. The Third Estate, comprising the common people, was burdened with heavy taxes and had little political power compared to the privileged First and Second Estates (clergy and nobility). Economic hardship, exacerbated by poor harvests and government debts, fueled resentment. The Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired revolutionary thinking, leading to the demand for reform and ultimately to the uprising that challenged the absolute monarchy and sought to establish a republic.