Final answer:
The French Revolution was caused by France's financial crisis, an unfair voting system within the Estates-General, and the heavy tax burden on commoners. Mismanagement of funds and resistance to tax reforms exacerbated the crisis, leading to widespread unrest and revolutionary upheaval.
Step-by-step explanation:
The French Revolution was the result of a complex blend of economic, social, and political factors. France's financial crisis, manifesting as a near-bankruptcy caused in part by expensive support for the American Revolution and lavish royal spending, served as one of the catalysts. The voting structure of the Estates-General was fundamentally unfair. Each of the three estates—clergy, nobility, and commons—had one vote, meaning any reforms desired by the commons could easily be blocked by the first two estates in alliance.