Question

Q2.What were the causes of empty treasury in late 18th century France?
Q3. How was the French society divided in 18th century? What
privileges did the upper classes of the society enjoy?

Answer 1

Answer:

Q.2) What were the causes of empty treasury in late 18th century France?

• France dealt with a lot financial crisis during the 18th Century, King Louis XVI of Bourbon family was the monarch of France.

• He recieved a drained treasury upon his accession.

• King Louis XVI was unable to handle the empire which resulted the kingdom to sufNobifer a lot of economic loss.

• The royal family rather than investing money on the nation's betterment, the treasury was used for their extravagant expenditure.

• France helped the thirteen American colonies to get independence from the Britain, who was thier common enemy.

• This made debt of more than 2 billion livres (currency used during that time) in the nation's treasury.

$\rule{300}{1.5}$

Q.3) How was the French society divided in 18th century? What privileges did the upper classes of the society enjoy?

• The French society during 18th Century was divided into 3 estates -

1. First estate = Clergy
2. Second estate = Nobility
3. Third estate = Further divided into 3

• Third estate was divided again into 3 -

1. Big businessmen, court officials etc.
2. Artisans and Peasants
3. Landless farmers

• The third estate people were only the tax payers, rest estates had special privileges.

• Some people of third estate were rich.

• Farmers were 90% of the total population, but only a few had their own lands.

• The nation's 60% land was owned by Church authorities and the richer section of third estate.

• The nobles had feudal privileges, the privileges include feudal dues which was taken from the peasants.

• Peasants neeeded to provide services to the lord by working in his house, join army and build roads.