In 1789 financial times were hard in France. The peasants were upset that the nobles were living lavish lives collecting taxes, while they suffered. The prices on food were rising and the people were starving. The French social system was outdated and consisted of three classes. The first class consisted of the clergy. They paid no taxes and led the best lives. The second estate was the nobles. These were people who held top jobs in the government. The third and largest estate was the peasants. The people paid the most taxes and suffered the most. These people paid for...
living wages. Wars waged over France between those who supported the republic and those who opposed it. The Jacobins wanted this for the government. Others wanted the government to become a democracy.

It was feuds such as these that didn't help France. The people tried to unite but it failed. Although they managed to gain some rights, they were unsuccessful. And by the nobles living lavish lifestyles they did not help the people in any way. And they led their life at the expense of the peasants, who barley able to afford a meal for them let along taxes.