Heavy Taxation on the Peasantry

Heavy taxation on the peasantry, prevalent in pre-revolutionary France, was a significant factor contributing to social unrest. The peasants, who constituted about 80% of the population, bore the brunt of the tax burden. Various forms of taxes were levied on them, including the taille (a direct land tax), the gabelle (a tax on salt), and the tithe (an obligatory contribution to the church, often comprising one-tenth of a peasant's produce). 

In addition to these taxes, peasants were also subject to feudal dues and obligations to their landlords, which included corvée labor (unpaid labor for public works). This extensive taxation and obligation system left the peasantry with little financial stability, often pushing them into poverty and debt. The taille, for instance, was particularly burdensome as it was historically a tax meant to be paid by the non-noble classes, thus exempting the nobility and clergy, who were wealthier.

The gabelle, on the other hand, was deeply resented because it taxed a basic necessity—salt. Salt was essential not just for cooking but also for preserving food. The high cost of salt due to the gabelle made everyday life more difficult for peasants. Moreover, the enforcement of the gabelle involved strict regulations and penalties, adding to the sense of injustice felt by those in rural areas.

Tithe payments (collected by the church) further strained peasant resources. Given that these payments were made in produce, it meant that a significant portion of agricultural output was regularly diverted away from sustenance or profit. This also meant that poor harvests (which were not uncommon due to varying climatic and environmental conditions) left peasants struggling to meet their tax obligations, often leading to higher debts.

Feudal dues presented another layer of financial pressure. These ranged from monetary payments to various forms of labor and produce. Feudal obligations also included banalités, which required peasants to use the lord's mill, oven, or winepress (often at a cost), thereby restricting the peasants' economic autonomy. The cumulative burden of these taxes and obligations left the rural populace searching for relief and incited widespread discontent.

The inequitable taxation system during this period was a primary cause of friction between the peasantry and the ruling classes. Many peasants perceived the nobility and clergy (who were largely exempt from such taxes) as exploitative and detached from the hardships of rural life. This resentment, fueled by economic hardship and a feeling of social injustice, played a crucial role in mobilizing the peasantry during the revolutionary period.

In the context of the broader French Revolution, these economic grievances can be seen as a catalyst for the popular uprisings (such as the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789). The demand for tax reforms and egalitarian principles (like those encapsulated in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen) reflected the deep-seated desire among the peasantry for an end to oppressive fiscal policies and feudal practices.

• In the years leading up to the French Revolution, peasants could pay up to 50% of their total income in taxes and feudal dues; this staggering rate plunged many into extreme poverty.
• Taxes weren't uniformly enforced; wealthier landowners often found ways to avoid or minimize their tax burdens, placing a heavier financial load on less affluent peasants.
• The enormous tax bills were often collected by corrupt tax collectors (who sometimes pocketed money rather than passing it to the state), further fueling resentment among the peasantry.
• Peasants were also subject to a variety of indirect taxes on everyday necessities (such as salt and wine), which disproportionately affected their ability to provide for their families.
• The discontent surrounding taxation contributed to revolutionary fervor; peasants not only sought an end to oppressive tax burdens but were also inspired by Enlightenment ideals advocating for equality and justice.