In today's lesson, we explored the social, economic, and political conditions in late 18th-century France, out of which the French Revolution exploded in 1789. The decay of 18th-century France had as much to do with its economic disposition as anything else. Had France's crippling debt not threatened to ruin the state, Louis XVI would likely not have been forced to make the fateful decision of calling the Estates-General. Additionally, it's unlikely the French Revolution would have unfolded the way it did if not for the highly unfavorable view of the French court by the people. Also, the economic crisis coincided with the beginning of an intellectual movement that attacked the very philosophical pillars on which the divine-right, monarchical government of France was based. Even considering all of these factors, it was still impossible to predict, at this juncture, the varied, nuanced - and at times, borderline insane - characteristics the French Revolution eventually exhibited.