France under the Ancien Régime (before the French Revolution) divided society into three estates:
the First Estate (clergy); the Second Estate
(nobility); and the Third Estate (commoners). The king was considered part of no estate.
Before the Revolution, France had three levels in its social system:
The First Estate (The Clergy), Second Estate(The Nobility) and Third Estate(Anyone else)
. The First Estate consisted of about 0.6%. It owned roughly 10% of the land, which it rented to peasants in return for a proportion of crops produced.
What was French society like before the revolution?
Before the Revolution
France was a
monarchy ruled by the king
. The king had total power over the government and the people. The people of France were divided into three social classes called “estates.” The First Estate was the clergy, the Second Estate was the nobles, and the Third Estate was the commoners.
The rise of the third estate against the Estate System and unequal representation due to
the class structure also gave rise to the French Revolution. The poor were angered to pay for the luxurious lifestyles of first and second estate.
The social structure of the old regime consisted of
the 1st, 2nd and 3rd estate
. The 1st estate consisted of the clergy, those in high positions of the church, the 2nd estate were the nobles, they had top jobs in government, army, courts and church, and the 3rd estate were the peasants.
Estates-General, also called States General, French États-Généraux, in France of the pre-Revolution monarchy, the representative assembly of the three “estates,” or orders of the realm:
the clergy (First Estate) and nobility (Second Estate)
—which were privileged minorities—and the Third Estate, which represented the …
The first seigneury owners were, for the most part, nobles and religious communities. Over time, as seigneuries were sold or inherited, they changed hands and were divided up. In the late eighteenth century, most of them were in the hands of
the middle class
, of people of French or British origin.
What were the 3 causes of the French Revolution?
- #1 Social Inequality in France due to the Estates System.
- #2 Tax Burden on the Third Estate.
- #3 The Rise of the Bourgeoisie.
- #4 Ideas put forward by Enlightenment philosophers.
- #5 Financial Crisis caused due to Costly Wars.
- #6 Drastic Weather and Poor Harvests in the preceding years.
What are 3 causes of the French Revolution?
Although scholarly debate continues about the exact causes of the Revolution, the following reasons are commonly adduced: (1) the bourgeoisie resented its exclusion from political power and positions of honour; (2) the peasants were acutely aware of their situation and were less and less willing to support the …
What were the 4 causes of the French Revolution?
- Old Regime. Social classes in France – No equality.
- Enlightenment Ideas. Burgeoisie of the 3rd Estate began questioning (little class mobility) …
- Economic Troubles. Taxes – 3rd Estate found it hard to pay half of their wages. …
- Poor Leadership.
What was the impact of French Revolution on France Class 9?
Explanation: The
Revolution led to the establishment of a democratic government for the first time in Europe
. Feudalism as an institution was buried by the Revolution, and the Church and the clergy were brought under State control. It led to the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte as the Emperor of France.
What was the political situation in France at the time?
Answer: During this period,
French citizens razed and redesigned their country’s political landscape
, uprooting centuries-old institutions such as absolute monarchy and the feudal system.
Social – The social conditions in France in late 18th century were
extremely unequal and exploitative
. The clergy and the nobility formed the first two Estates and were the most privileged classes in the French society. They were exempt from payment of taxes to the State.
Why was Bastille hated by all?
Bastille
was
hated by all
, because it stood for the despotic power of the king. The fortress was demolished and its stone fragments were sold in the markets to
all
those who wished to keep a souvenir of its destruction.
What were the different sections of the French society?
- Clergy consisted of the high priests and they did not have to pay taxes.
- Nobility consisted of the king and the and the peole who were very rich and wealthy and even they dont have to pay taxes.
