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That's too simplistic. There were many factors involved. I'm thinking more of the accesses of nobility - starving populace and the financial crisis of bankruptcy (Seven Years War, The American Revolution War aid) There were crop failures and the high taxes that a lot of the nobility were exempt from. The people wanted reform. The undercurrent was there for over twenty years.

So basically there were five causes:

1.Political problems After Louis XVI became king,under his poor rule,problems in France became even more serious.People were discontented.

2.Economic problems Court expenditure and foreign wars spend a lot of money,also tax officers were corrupt and reduced income of government.When France was hit by natural disaters,peasants had no income to pay for taxes.

3.Social problems France was divided into three estates,the first(clergy) and second(nobles) estates didn't need to pay taxes and enjoyed many privileges.

4.Influence of Englightenment thinkings there were many famous Englightenment thinkers in France such as Voltaire, Rosseau, Montesquieu,etc.They encourged equality in society and the right to rebel.

5.Impact of success of American revolution After the success of American revolution,Englightenment thinkings were more supportive by the people,the middle class were determined to fight against for equality and freedom.

Yes, I touched on the "income inequality" (its modern liberal implications aside) of the time period, as well as the influence of Rosseau (who was connected to the author of this book). And I admitted that there's certainly more to the whole thing than just a simple book. My point was that this book gave an excuse to the pious poor. Of course, the middle classes were already on-board.

Thank you for the points, though. I was debating whether or not I should have written an explanatory comment here.

Dominus vobiscum!

Also, many people in America falsely associate kings with dictators and totalitarians, because of their power grabs in the early modern era. But the despot model of kingship was an innovation from around the time of the Renaissance... and a couple hundred years later, people were still bitter.