18 Questions
How was the French society divided into different estates in the 18th century?
The French society was divided into three estates in the 18th century: the clergy (1st estate), the nobility (2nd estate), and the commoners (3rd estate).
What were the main reasons for the empty treasure when the King became the ruler?
The main reasons for the empty treasure when the King became the ruler were the long years of war and the maintenance of the court of the Palace of Versailles.
Describe the privileges and power held by the clergy (1st estate) in French society.
The clergy, which included priests, bishops, and other religious leaders, were part of the church and held a lot of power and influence. They were also exempted from paying taxes.
What was the role and status of the nobility (2nd estate) in French society?
The nobility, which included kings, queens, lords, and other aristocrats, were usually wealthy and had a lot of privileges in French society.
Why was the measure of increasing taxes not sufficient to meet the expenses of the French government?
The measure of increasing taxes was not sufficient because only the members of the third estate paid taxes, while the clergy and nobility were exempted from paying taxes.
How did the French government's involvement in the American War of Independence contribute to the financial problems faced by the French state?
The French government's involvement in helping the thirteen American colonies gain independence from Britain added a lot of debt to the French government, which was a major factor in the empty treasury when the new King took over.
What were the feudal dues extracted from the peasants in the Old Regime France?
The feudal dues were payments or services owed by the peasants to the nobles and the Church.
What was the burden faced by the Third Estate alone in financing the state?
The burden of financing the state through taxes was borne by the Third Estate alone.
What percentage of the population in France was made up of peasants, and how much land did they own?
Peasants made up about 90 percent of the population, but only a small number of them owned the land they cultivated.
What factors led to the subsistence crisis or frequent food shortages in Old Regime France?
The rapid increase in population and demand for food, coupled with stagnant wages and poor harvests due to droughts or hail, led to frequent subsistence crises or food shortages.
How did the growing middle class challenge the privileges of birth in eighteenth-century France?
The educated middle class believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth, challenging the existing social order.
What were the sources of wealth for the growing middle class in eighteenth-century France?
The middle class earned their wealth through an expanding overseas trade and from the manufacture of goods such as woollen and silk textiles.
What were the three estates in pre-revolutionary France, and how were they represented in the Estates General?
The three estates were: 1) The clergy (First Estate), 2) The nobility (Second Estate), and 3) The commoners (Third Estate). In the Estates General, the First and Second Estates each had 300 representatives seated facing each other, while the 600 members of the Third Estate had to stand at the back.
What was the key demand of the Third Estate regarding voting in the Estates General, and how did the King respond?
The Third Estate demanded that voting in the Estates General be conducted by the assembly as a whole, with each member having one vote. The King rejected this proposal.
Describe the events that led to the formation of the National Assembly by the Third Estate.
After the King rejected their demand for voting by head, the members of the Third Estate protested and walked out of the Estates General assembly. On June 20, 1789, they assembled in an indoor tennis court and formed the National Assembly.
How did the ideas of philosophers spread among the people in pre-revolutionary France?
The ideas of philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee-houses, and spread among people through books and newspapers, which were often read aloud in groups for those who could not read and write.
What was the reaction of the people to the news that King Louis XVI planned to impose further taxes?
The news that Louis XVI planned to impose further taxes to meet the expenses of the state generated anger and protest against the system, contributing to the outbreak of the revolution.
How did the rise of the middle class in the eighteenth century contribute to the outbreak of the French Revolution?
Some philosophers considered that the middle class was solely responsible for the revolution. The middle class, represented by the educated and prosperous members of the Third Estate, played a key role in challenging the existing social order and demanding political representation.
Learn about the characteristics and role of the third estate during the French Revolution, including the types of people included, their financial burden, and land ownership statistics. Dive into the significance of peasants, merchants, and workers in this historical context.
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