Question

In an era of bad harvests, famine, and rioting, the French government took steps to improve the worsening financial crisis. What did the government do?

The government raised taxes.
The government called for genuine political reform.
The government forced all estates to pay the same taxes.
The government reduced the Third Estate’s tax burden.

Answer 1

The government raised taxes.

(They attempted new and higher taxes to cover deficits — efforts to tax the privileged ran into resistance and helped trigger the calling of the Estates‑General in 1789.)