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 stadtholder:
Willem V, Prince of Oranje-Nassau - Regents only looked after their own interests
- Willem V made the position of stadtholder hereditary
- Willem V tried to increase his power
- Willem V behaved like a king with absolute power