<P> During the Age of Enlightenment, the physiocrat school of economy emerged . The physiocrats, or économistes as they called themselves, had a great impact on Turgot, Louis XVI's Controller - General of Finances . Their opinion on what government economic policy should be was summarized in the term Vincent de Gournay laid claim to: "laissez faire, laissez passer", meaning leave it alone and let it pass, also known as the "invisible hand" notion . Turgot passionately defended Gournay's belief in "laissez - faire" economic principles in his writing "Éloge de Gournay". Accordingly, Turgot abolished police regulations and established free trade in grain on 13 September 1774 . </P> <P> During the period before the spring harvest of 1775, the cereal reserves were exhausted while new crops had not yet arrived . In spring 1775, famine arose in this new context: before Turgot's edict, every region faced its own shortages, so that some would have suffered a genuine famine while others would have been totally spared and supplied through stable prices; a royal intervention would have been requested, and without a doubt obtained, to assure the supply of the regions most affected . With liberalization, owners of grain started to speculate by storing grain . They also tend to buy en masse in areas of good harvests to sell in areas of bad harvests where profits could be greater, causing significant price increases and shortages all over and affecting more people more quickly . Changes to grain and bread supply had serious implications, and was met with disorder . This conflict was known as the Flour War of 1775 . Reports from those that controlled the flow of grain stated there were problems with the grain harvest which caused shortages and less grain availability . The price of grain also increased, and became hard for some to afford . News of a grain shortage was met with skepticism and frustration rose from higher prices . Those in opposition of the reform rioted, and seized grain that came in on shipments . They offered what they felt was the "just price" for it . This demonstrated a way in which the people took some power back into their own hands . This practice was known as "taxation populaire", or popular taxation . </P> <P> While there were documented efforts to deal with the grain shortage problems, such as increasing shipments from foreign countries, beliefs that the famine was intentionally orchestrated by Louis XVI, through the "Pacte de Famine", emerged . Turgot repressed the riots and restored controls over the grain market . The idea of free trade of grain was discredited and the economic experiment distanced the masses from the government in Versailles . The Flour War can be seen as a prelude to the French Revolution . </P> <P> The fear of famine became an ever - present dread for the lower strata of the Third Estate, and rumors of the "Pacte de Famine" to starve the poor were still rampant and readily believed . Mere rumors of food shortage led to the Réveillon riots in April 1789 . Rumors of a plot aiming to destroy wheat crops in order to starve the population provoked the Great Fear in the summer of 1789 . The hunger and despair of the Parisian women was also the original impetus for the Women's March on Versailles in October 1789, they wanted not just one meal but the assurance that bread would once again be plentiful and cheap . </P>

What was the three causes of the french revolution