Describe the French society of 18th century
Answers
Explanation:
French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century
Royalty
The monarch of France before and during the French Revolution was King Louis XVI from the Bourbon family. He ascended the throne in 1774 at the age of 20. His wife was Queen Marie Antoinette. They live in the magnificent Palace of Versailles.
Societal Structure - Ancien Regime
First estate - Clergy (the body of all people who performed religious duties in the Christian Church)
0.5% of the Population.
Was exempt from paying taxes to the State.
Owned a lot of land.
Collected taxes from the Third Estate called Tithes.
Second Estate - Nobility (aristocracy and feudal lords)
1.5% of the Population
Hereditary positions, name carries forward.
Exempt from paying taxes to the State
Owns a lot of land.
Collects feudal dues from the peasants working on his lands.
Peasants obligated to serve the nobility and work in their houses, fields or in their armies.
Third Estate - Commoners
98% of the Population
Composed of both rich and poor people.
Rich - Big businessmen, lawyers, merchants, court officials, lawyers,etc. Also some artisans and free peasants.
Poor - Small peasants, landless labourers, servants, etc.
They are the ONLY ones who pay direct taxes called Taille as well as indirect taxes to the State. They also pay dues to the clergy and their feudal lords.
Each estate has only one vote in the Estates General. Moreover, nobility and clergy wield considerable power and influence over the government.
Economic State of France
Wars in Europe and America have emptied the treasury.
National debt amounts to 3 billion Livres.
To repay the loans and in order to maintain the expensive lifestyle of the court, King Louis XVI wants to increase taxation.
Subsistence Crisis
The population increased by around 5 million in France in the 18th century. This led to an increased demand for food. However the increased demand was not met by an increased supply which remained constant. This led to a scarcity in food resources. The price of food went up but the income of the poor remained the same. Consequently, the poor were not able to buy enough food for survival. Moreover, bad harvests and drought furthered decreased the amount of food being produced. There was widespread hunger and starvation.This led to disease epidemics and food riots which caused numerous deaths.
The Middle Class
Increased access to education and new ideas, led to a new class of people among the Third Estate who organised themselves in order to change the archaic social and economic order. They refuted the idea of divine rights of the king. This middle class challenged the traditional feudal system of giving privileges to the nobility. They were angry and agitated by the proposed increase in taxes. Ideas of equality of all men, liberty and fraternity took root.
The French society of the 18th century saw the emergence of the Middle-class people.
Explanation:
- French society was part of the feudal system.
- The first two estates clergy and nobility enjoyed the rights and privileges.
- The land owned by the Lords and Church authority as both controlled the laws and people.
- The clergy collected the tithes from the peasants as taxes.
- The third estate, bourgeoisie class, forced to hold responsibilities to pay taxes.
- During the 18th century, France saw the emergence of the middle class who earned their living through overseas trade.
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Describe the french society in 18th century
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