Throw light on the background of the French Revolution of 1789.

Background and Pre-Conditions of the French Revolution of 1789:

The French Revolution of 1789 was the culmination of long-term structural decay in French society and governance:

• 1. Autocratic Royal Despotism (Bourbon Monarchy):
  • King Louis XVI exercised absolute divine right despotism without calling the representative parliament (Estates-General) for 175 years (since 1614); extravagant court life at Versailles isolated the monarchy from the people.
• 2. Deep Social Inequity (The Three Estates):
  • Privileged Orders (1st Clergy & 2nd Nobility - 3% population): Held 35% of fertile land, enjoyed total tax exemptions, and extracted feudal tithes and dues.
  • Unprivileged 3rd Estate (97% population): Bourgeoisie (rich professionals denied political rights) and destitute peasantry bearing all taxes (Taille, Gabelle, Corvée).
• 3. Enlightenment Philosophy (Philosophes):
  • Intellectual critiques by Voltaire (attacking Church bigotry), Montesquieu (Separation of Powers), and Rousseau (Social Contract - Popular Sovereignty) eroded the ideological legitimacy of the divine monarchy.
• 4. Imminent National Bankruptcy & Famine of 1788–89: Heavy war debts from the American Revolutionary War pushed the treasury to collapse; crop failures led to severe bread riots in Paris.