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‘Subsistence crisis’ can be defined as an extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are endangered.

During the Old Regime, France faced the ‘subsistence crisis’ because

i. The population of France had increased from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789.

The growing population led to a rapid increase in the demand for foodgrains. But the production of grains could not keep pace with the demand.

ii. Most workers got fixed wages which did not keep pace with the rising prices of objects of daily use. So the gap between the poor and rich increased.

iii. Things became worse when drought or hail reduced the harvest, causing shortages.