1. 18th Century French Society

3. 18th Century French Society
France was ruled by an absolute monarchy
Three Estates made up the French social structure
Born into each estate, and almost impossible to change station
The King has a separate place on top of all estates

4. First Estate The clergy priests who ran the Catholic church
Kept registers of births, deaths and marriages
They charged the Third Estate a tax called a dixieme (a tenth of a person’s earnings)

5. Second State
The nobility of France, including members of the royal family, except for the King.
only 1% of the total population
did not have to pay taxes.
awarded special privileges, such as the wearing a sword and hunting.
collected taxes from the Third Estate.

6. Third Estate
96% of the population from peasant farmers to the bourgeoisie
Had none of the rights and privileges of the other two estates.
wanted a more equal distribution of wealth and power
The main reason the French Revolution happened was the fact that members of the Third Estate were unhappy

7. Land Ownership Followed a Feudal land system
Much of the land was owned by the nobility, royal family, or the church
Peasants farmed the land and paid large amounts to the landlord
Rent paid in crops, labour, and money

8. Peasant Life Held small plots of land Often on unproductive land
Worked hard with little to show
Part time worked on Lord’s property
Few had access to education
Could not read or write
Brutal Lives
Often the victims of epidemics and famine

9. Bourgeoisie Life
The bourgeoisie were shop owners and merchants who had more money than peasants
Invested in new businesses and provided goods and services
Impossible to gain powerful offices in government or move up in class

10. Working In 18th Century France
Finding work in the city could be difficult because guilds controlled work availability
Hard to become part of a guild
Life was hard without a guild membership
Only low paying jobs
Some cannot find work
Little to eat
Little to lose in a revolution

11. Living Expenses Most of a person’s money was spent on food
Really expensive
People would live in slums so they could afford food
Some forced to beg or steal in order to survive

12. The Problem of Inflation
A situation in which the price of goods rises quickly
Everyone affected
Flour and bread became very expensive
Bread was a staple in the diet

13. Louis XIV: The Sun King Ruled France 1643-1715
Called the Sun King because he believed that he was the source of all light in a nation
“I am the State”
He was an absolute monarch
His word was law
Depended solely on his judgment and the advice of his few trusted advisors

14. Versailles The original residence was primarily a hunting lodge.
Under Louis XIV it was transformed into an immense and extravagant complex surrounded by stylized English and French gardens
Every detail of its construction glorified the king.
Took several decades and an enormous amount of money to build
At the expense of taxing the people

15. Why is Versailles Important
A place to watch and control the nobles
A way to reward those nobles he liked and inform those who he did not like
Those in his favour were invited to attend daily royal events
Those out of favour were put in rooms far from the king and ignored

16. The Palace of Versailles

19. Versailles Created a Disconnect
Versailles was beautiful, luxurious, and ISOLATED!
As a result, nobles and their families had little idea of the realities of life in France
Living the high life vs real life