3. First EstateSecond EstateThird Estate Roman Catholic Clergy: 10% land ownership 2% tax rate 1% population Aristocrats / Nobles: 20% land ownership No taxes 2% population Bourgeoisie (Middle Class) / Workers / Peasants: 50% Tax rate 97% population

6. When a famine struck, many of the poor in France began to starve to death. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette (the Queen) still ate well and threw grand parties. This angered the 3 rd Estate even more.