1. The Old Regime

3. The Old Regime People of France were divided into 3-estates
What: Social structure which remained from the system of feudalism (Middle Ages)
People of France were divided into 3-estates
1st, 2nd & 3rd Estates

4. The Privileged Estates
The 1st & 2nd estate were privileged estates
They paid NO TAXES
Had access to high office (in King’s Bureaucracy)

5. 1st ESTATE 2nd ESTATE 3rd Estate Clergy Nobles
Peasants
Workers
Bourgeoisie
Nobles
<1% of Population 2% of Population
97% Population
Owned 10% of land
Owned 20% Land
Owned Land,
but paid
High taxes
Disapproved of
enlightened ideas
Did little/no work
Did most work

6. 3 Estates of France: an Analysis

7. Bourgeoisie 3rd Estate Middle class: lawyers, merchants
Well-educated, believed in enlightened ideas
Paid high taxes and lacked privileges of nobles

8. Workers 3rd Estate Cooks, Servants, etc….
Paid low wages, often went hungry
If the cost of bread rose => workers would rebel

9. Peasants 3rd Estate Made up 80% of Population!
Paid dues to nobles, fees to church & taxes to the King
Extreme hunger was common

10. Road to Revolution
The 3rd estate resented the unfair social system of France.
It would not take much to spark revolution

11. Louis XVI Weak Leader Preferred personal interests over government
Often left work up to advisors. Not capable of making tough decisions

12. Platform for Revolution
Enlightenment Ideas
Unfair Estate System
Economic Woes of France
Weak Leadership of Louis XVI

13. Describe how this picture illustrates the social conditions in France in
Explain why revolution appears inevitable?