... into what became the French Revolution. In order to determine to what extent misery led to this Revolution, we must first explore these respective political, economic and social discontents which arose and together culminated in the Revolution. It can be suggested that the earliest origins of the French Revolution lie in the Aristocratic Revolution, which marked the start of political stirrings, and stemmed from the program of economic reform, attempted by successive finance ministers to lessen the debt brought on by war. Calonne's proposal of a single land tax met clerical opposition in the Assembly of Notables and inflamed the Parlement of Paris, despite being influenced by the Enlightenment to appear revolutionary. The Parlement's subsequent call for resistance against Louis led to its expulsion, followed in quick succession by its recall but with restricted powers imposed by Lamoignon on 8 May 1788. This initiated the Aristocratic Revolution, the most violent ...

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