1. The population of France was on the rise. It rose from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. This led to increase in the demand for food grains.
2. The production of food grains could not keep pace with the demand and the price of bread which was the staple diet of the majority rose rapidly.
3. The wages also did not keep pace with the rise in prices. The gap between the rich and the poor widened. This led to the subsistence crisis.
