write the composition of french society in 18th century
Answers
The first estate included King Louis XVI and his clerics. These people never paid taxes and, in essence, did the least amount of work. In a time of famine and bad harvest, they squandered countless quantities of money on superfluous causes and selfish indulgences. They ate exceptionally well and were clothed and sheltered in the best of circumstances possible. Because of their lavish life, members of the first estate saw no need for change and were blind to any social problems. They were in such a mentality that if they could better their lives in such a fashion, then there was certainly no need for reform.
The second estate was similar in many respects to the first. Those in this estate were noblemen and noblewomen of high breeding and social status. These people were supposed to pay taxes in wartime; however, because they were not used to paying taxes, this rule was rarely enforced. This estate added to the strain on the economy, and yet the people of this class lived luxuriously enough that they did not care. They, too, saw no problem in the Estates-General or in social structure. Again, the members of this estate saw only profit for themselves and saw not the decline for the third estate.
The third estate was comprised of the workers, the beggars, the artisans, and the bourgeoisie. This class did all the working of the land and created most of what the higher classes took for granted such as horseshoes, homes, and other like things, yet they reaped little to no benefits. They did not have equal representation in the government, had no influence in voting procedures, and paid the heavy taxes laid down by the King. After a while, it grew so ridiculous and tiresome that the third estate joined itself into a union and rose up in defiance against the Estates-General. However, there was a growing fear that their newly formed National Assembly would be disbanded by the government. Strains grew between the Third Estate and the higher Estates. Deputies of the Third Estate had to meet in a local tennis court on June 17, 1789, as they had been locked out of their meeting hall in Versailles. They vowed not to separate until a constitution was created and signed for France. The king was forced to send clergy and noblemen to join the Third Estate in the National Assembly to keep some semblance of peace. They created an oath of allegiance, revolting against the government to place real representatives in the government, gain influence on the vote, and lift the burden of the hefty taxes under which they were placed. The document was signed by 576 of the 577 members of the Third Estate, as well as, a few members of the First Estate in a meeting of the Estates-General held in the tennis court on June 20, 1789. The oath later came to be known as the Tennis Court Oath. This led to a greater revolt against the King himself and his wife, both of whom greatly decreased the economy of France in their lust for luxuries and vanities.
All three of these estates had influence on the French Revolution; without them, the revolution never would have existed. It was because of the oppression of the higher classes that the lower class rose up and stood up to the lions of injustice ( to quote Jo from Little Women). The third estate held the most convincing perspective because of its suppression and delineation from social graces. The third estate looked at its situation and chose to take action; whereas, the other two sat by on pedestals and acted as if things were perfect in their present state. It just comes to show that, when one group is discriminated against or socially eradicated, that group will rise up and become more influential than the people in the groups previously stomping on them.
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.