The primary cause of the political upheaval known as the French Revolution was widespread dissatisfaction with the monarchy and the socio-economic inequality prevalent in society. The Third Estate, comprising the common people, was burdened with heavy taxes while the First and Second Estates (clergy and nobility) enjoyed privileges and wealth. Food shortages and economic hardships, compounded by Enlightenment ideas advocating for democracy and individual rights, fueled public discontent. The extravagant lifestyle of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette further alienated the populace. As tensions escalated, popular unrest led to the revolution's outbreak in 1789, challenging the authority of the monarchy and sparking radical social and political change in France.