Enlightenment Ideas

The Three Estates of France

The Three Estates First Estate: - Made up of clergy of Roman Catholic Church, scorned Enlightened ideas. Second Estate: - Made up of rich nobles, held highest offices in government, and disagreed with Enlightened ideas.

First and Second Estate

Third Estate Included bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and peasant farmers. Had no power to influence government. Embraced Enlightened ideas.

Third Estate of France

The three estates First estate- owned 10% of the land, provided education and relief services to the poor. - Contributed 2% of its income to the government. Second estate- 1.5% of the population, owned 20% and paid no taxes. Seems fair right….

The three estates Third estate – 98% of the population and differed economically from merchants and well educated to peasants. - All heavily taxed.

What led to the decline of France? What typically leads to a decline of a nation? Economic hardship and weak leadership.

Economic hardship Expanding population with extremely high taxes made business impossible to flourish. Cost of living rose and crops began to fail. - 1789 price of bread doubled. King Louis XVI lived an extravagant life and spent money wastefully. - Borrowed money to help Americans fight the British.

Weak Leadership Louis XVI became king in 1774. Preferred to hunt and play rather than govern. Age 15 married Marie Antoinette who was only 14. Marie was from Austria (long time enemy of France) Marriage was extremely unpopular. Marie spent money lavishly on gowns, jewelry, and gifts #Madamedefecit

Weak leadership Rather than cutting expenses and raising taxes Louis put the issue off. Facing bankruptcy attempted to tax nobles. Estates-General – representatives from all 3 estates. - first meeting in 175 years- May 5, 1789 at Versailles.