10 Questions
Who was the king of France who ascended the throne in 1774?
Louis XVI
The French government was able to reduce its debts by 50% during the reign of Louis XVI.
False
What was the main reason for the financial crisis in France during the reign of Louis XVI?
Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France.
The French society in the 18th century was divided into ________ estates.
three
Which of the following groups paid taxes in the French society of estates?
Members of the third estate
The nobles were exempt from paying feudal dues.
False
Match the following groups with their privileges in the French society of estates:
Clergy = Nobility Exemption from paying taxes = Feudal dues
About ________ per cent of the land was owned by nobles, the Church and other richer members of the third estate.
60
What was the term used to describe the society and institutions of France before 1789?
Old Regime
What percentage of the population were peasants in the French society of estates?
90%
Study Notes
Ascension of Louis XVI
- Louis XVI, a member of the Bourbon family of kings, became the King of France in 1774 at the age of 20.
- He was married to Marie Antoinette, an Austrian princess.
Financial Crisis in France
- France was facing an empty treasury due to long years of war.
- The cost of maintaining an extravagant court at the Palace of Versailles added to the financial burden.
French Support for American Colonies
- Under Louis XVI, France helped the thirteen American colonies gain independence from Britain.
- The war added more than a billion livres to France's debt, which had already risen to more than 2 billion livres.
Debt and Interest Payments
- Lenders began to charge 10% interest on loans, increasing the French government's expenditure on interest payments.
- The state was forced to spend a significant percentage of its budget on interest payments alone.
Taxation and the Estates
- The French government increased taxes to meet its regular expenses, such as maintaining an army, the court, and running government offices or universities.
- Only members of the third estate paid taxes, while the clergy and nobility enjoyed exemption from paying taxes by birth.
- The nobles further enjoyed feudal privileges, including feudal dues extracted from peasants.
The Estates System
- French society was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the third estate.
- The third estate was comprised of peasants, who made up about 90% of the population, but only a small number owned the land they cultivated.
- About 60% of the land was owned by nobles, the Church, and other richer members of the third estate.
Contributions of the Third Estate
- The third estate bore the burden of financing state activities through taxes, including a direct tax called taille and indirect taxes on everyday consumption items like salt or tobacco.
- Peasants were also obliged to render services to the lord, work in their fields, serve in the army, or participate in building roads.
Learn about the ascension of Louis XVI, financial crisis in France, and French support for American colonies in the late 18th century.
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