Around 1780 problems in the Republic:
- VOC and WIC not that profitable anymore - Expensive wars with the English
- Poverty and unemployment were increasing
- People became critical of the regents and of the stadholder:
William V, Prince of Oranje-Nassau - Regents only looked after their own interests (administration),
- William V made the position of stadholder hereditary,
- William V tried to increase his power,
- William V behaved like a king with absolute power.