What were the causes of the French Revolution? Question 2: What was a primary reason for the Third Estate forming the National Assembly after Louis XVI reconvened the Estates-General in 1789? Select one: - The French voting system was structured such that the Third Estate was consistently outvoted by the First and Second Estates. - The king refused to acknowledge the Third Estate's Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. - The Third Estate aimed to abolish the monarchy and establish a representative democracy. - The Third Estate believed that creating the National Assembly might persuade the First Estate to support its cause.

The French voting system was structured such that the Third Estate was consistently outvoted by the First and Second Estates. This voting system was one of the reasons for the formation of the National Assembly. Historically, in the Estates-General, each Estate had one vote, despite the fact that the Third Estate represented the vast majority of the French population. This meant that the two privileged Estates, the Clergy (First Estate) and the Nobility (Second Estate), could operate together to outvote the Third Estate, which led to widespread frustration and contributed to the demand for a more representative system of governance.

Extra: The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France that had long-lasting effects on the country and the world. There are several causes of the French Revolution, including:

1. Financial Crisis: The French monarchy had accumulated a massive amount of debt through wars and extravagant spending. This led to increased taxes and economic hardships, especially for the Third Estate, which consisted of peasants, artisans, and the burgeoning middle class.

2. Social Inequality: French society was divided into three Estates: the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (commoners). The Third Estate was burdened with almost all of the taxation, yet had virtually no political power, which led to a desire for equal representation and an end to the feudal system.

3. Enlightenment Ideas: The spread of Enlightenment ideas challenged the traditional hierarchies and privileges of the First and Second Estates and promoted the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

4. Weak Monarchy: King Louis XVI was seen as ill-equipped to address the financial issues and social unrest. His indecisiveness and perceived detachment from the common people's suffering further discredited the monarchy.

5. Food Shortages: Bad harvests led to food shortages, which resulted in increased bread prices, and widespread hunger among the poor and working classes, adding to the general discontent.

It's important to understand that the discontent among the members of the Third Estate was based on more than just voting rights. They were subject to inequality in many parts of their lives, and their formation of the National Assembly was an assertion of their desire to have a voice in the governance of France. The National Assembly marked the beginning of the end of absolute monarchy and the start of representative government in France.