France: The Old Regime

Journal #

Old Regime – the social and political system of France before the revolution French society divided up into three estates or three classes – since the Middle Ages! These estates or classes battle each other during the French Revolution, afterward during Napoleon’s time, and several more times Basic problem – system is built on inequity

First Estate Made up of Roman Catholic Church clergy = 1% of population Owned 10% of land Taxes = 2% of income paid to government (voluntary contribution given every 5 years) Provided education and relief services to the poor Scorned enlightenment ideas Divided: high clergy to parish priests who were often poor commoners

Second Estate Rich nobles = 2% of the population Owned 20% of the land Paid no taxes Held high offices in government, courts, and the military Nobility of the robe=status from office holding Nobility of the sword=status as descendants of original medieval nobility Disagreed with enlightenment ideas

Third Estate Everyone else – 97% of population Bourgeoisie (middle class) = 8% of population Traders, merchants, artisans Owned 20-25% of the land Sometimes wealthy but paid high taxes No access to power like the 1st and 2nd estates had

Third Estate Urban lower class = 14% of of population Workers who lived in cities Apprentices, laborers, servants, maids Paid little, would often riot if food was not available

Third Estate Peasants = 75% of population Owned 35-40% of land (over half had no land) 50% of their income paid in taxes to government and tithes to the church Very bitter and resentful toward nobility (2nd estate)

Classroom = France Desks = Land Notes taken = taxes paid