... in theory - an increasingly unpopular form of government at the time.) Large/growing middle class - ideology of equality and freedom of the individual. Ideas from philosophers Voltaire and Turgot and others of the Enlightenment. French Mon operated many yrs without resorting to legislature. Managed fiscal maters by increasing taxes, borrowing money, selling titles and privileges. These bought titles exempted them from future taxes, therefore buying an annuity. Leading to the long-running fiscal crisis of the French gov. On eve of rev. France was effectively bankrupt, after Louis XIV's extravagant expenditure on Versailles, with other spending on the Seven Years War & American war of independence. Britain had much debt caused by conflicts - more advanced fiscal structure was able to deal with it, as Britain was a trading nation, with ready capital, more than france. Unequal collection of consumption taxes. The gabelle tax- extremely unpopular - taxed by private collectors. The taxation ...

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