Question

write down the social structure of French during 18th century ​

Answer 1

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French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century

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.

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Answer 2

The French society was known as the old regime. Due to certain depletions of royal Treasury , Louis 16 decided to divide society into 3 states . They are clergy , nobility and the 3rd estate which comprises of big business men , artisans , peasants, etc.
The clergy and the nobility were privileged by birth . They were exempted from paying takes to the government . 3rd estate has to pay taxes
alone . Even clergy and nobility has feudal privileges . This was the major cause of the French revolution.