Material Culture - Regency and The Glorious French Revolution:

The French Revolution - 1787/1789:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/219315/French-Revolution

The French revolution took shape when Charles Alexandre de Calonne, the controller of general finances, arranged the summoning of an assembley of great noblemen in 1787 to propose reforms designed to eliminate the budget deficit by increasing the taxation of the privileged classes.

During the Spring and Summer of 1788, there was unrest among the populace in Paris, Grenoble, Dijon, Toulouse, Pau and Rennes.