Estates General & the Old Regime France: Estates General & the Old Regime

The First Estate

The First Estate Consisted of: Roman Catholic clergy, 1.0% of population Paid no taxes! Consisted of 2 major groups

The First Estate Upper Clergy: Archbishops & abbots Extravagant lives Owned 10-15% of all French land

The First Estate Responsibilities: Record keeping Tithe collection (10%) Moral policies Advised king

The First Estate Lower Clergy: Bishops & priests Not quite as wealthy, more sympathetic to peasants

The First Estate Responsibilities: Ran schools Cared for the poor (Resented luxurious lifestyle of upper clergy)

The Second Estate

The Second Estate Consisted of: Nobility, 2% of population PAID NO TAXES!! 25-30% of land Consisted of 2 groups…

The Second Estate Nobility of the Sword: Most prestigious group Ancient lineage (heredity)

The Second Estate Nobility of the Robe: Less prestigious Paid for government & military positions

The Second Estate Responsibilities: Controlled forests, lakes and ponds Restricted from farming; therefore, collected rent from peasants

The Third Estate

The Third Estate Consisted of: 97% of population PAID TAXES!! 3 groups

The Third Estate Bourgeoisie: Merchants, bankers, doctors, lawyers 4-5% of population Owned 20% of land No church, army or government positions

The Third Estate Sans-Culottes: “without knee pants” Urban artisans & laborers 15% of population Poor

The Third Estate Peasants: 80–85% of population Worked 30-40% of land Could not hunt or fish Taxed for almost everything (king, church, lord of the manor, goods, etc.)