... failure to bring about genuine reform at a time of growing antagonism and criticism of the existing order. As well as the reforming impetus of the bourgeoisie, the peasantry was another social group who played a crucial role in the actual outbreak of revolution. The peasantry was angry with the injustice of a system where the rich upper classes received numerous privileges and tax exemptions whereas the rural poor majority were left to bear heavy burdens in the form of feudal dues and indirect taxes such as the 'taille'2. The peasantry had remained largely passive in their opposition until 1788 and it has been put forward that their uprising acted as the catalyst which sparked the revolution. Strongly related to the discontent of the peasantry was the economic situation in France at the time of the revolution. In the years before 1789 the French Economy was experiencing deterioration and had ...

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