Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.

The outbreak of revolutionary protest in France can be attributed to a complex interplay of social, economic, and political factors that had been brewing for years. These were:

1. Social Inequality — The society was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the common people (the Third Estate). The Third Estate, which constituted the vast majority of the population, faced heavy taxation and lacked political representation, while the nobility and clergy enjoyed significant privileges.
2. Economic Crisis — France was grappling with a severe economic crisis because of extravagant spending by the monarchy, costly wars, and poor harvests that led to food shortages. The tax burden fell disproportionately on the Third Estate, leading to widespread discontent among peasants, urban workers, and the middle class.
3. Enlightenment Ideas — The ideas such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, spread across Europe and found fertile ground in France. Philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu criticized the absolute power of the monarchy and advocated for political reforms.
4. Weak Leadership — King Louis XVI's indecisiveness and inability to address the mounting social and economic issues further eroded confidence in the monarchy. His appointment of unpopular ministers, such as Jacques Necker, and his failure to effectively manage the burgeoning crisis only fueled discontent.
5. The Estates-General — In an attempt to address the financial crisis, King Louis XVI convened the Estates-General in 1789 for the first time in over a century. However, the representation was heavily skewed in favour of the nobility and clergy, frustrating the Third Estate's aspirations for meaningful political change.
6. Storming of the Bastille — On July 14, 1789, growing unrest in Paris culminated in the storming of the Bastille, a symbol of royal tyranny. This event marked the beginning of the French Revolution.