Gideon Richter

Introduction to the French Revolution Read Pages from both texts to fill in the chart in a comprehensive fashion. 1. Use a chart or organized headings to compare the Three Estates with regards to the following categories: Who they are Population Amount of land owned Political status (power) Economics status (wealth) Social status (place in society) Jobs/professions Privileges Opinions about absolute rule Opinions about taxation Opinions about reform (changing the system) Role in revolutionary activity First Estate The Church/Clergy 100,000 People .5% 10% of the land Structured like the French society. Hierarchy BishopsArchbishops- and abbots. Nuns, Priests etc. Collected income and feudal taxes, and a 10% tithe of citizens income. Above all, as they worked with the divine, they even had some control over Kings and everybody else. Second Estate Nobility 390,000 People 1.5% 25% of the land. Nobles of the sword won their title through medieval warfare. Third Estate Peasants/Bourgeoisie/Urban workers 27,000,000 98% 65% of the land. Did not have a say in how politics went down. They just received what politicians made up. Wealthy businessmen of the bourgeoisie to the homeless. Aspired to be nobility and often used their money to advance their social position. Predominately a agricultural culture, apprenticeship, journeyman, and masters positions (Trade workers) NONE, they paid their taxes, listened to royalty and were abused by everybody above them socially. Shopkeepers, artisans, lawyers, bureaucrats, Wine liqueur, luxury goods, farmers, landowners, sharecroppers or renters and landless peasants. Allowed to collect taxes for the crown, as long as the amount specified was given, they could keep whatever else they could collect. This was abused. Relatively well paid compared to others also secure. None, only given land.

Who they are Population Amount of land owned Political Status

Economic Status

Social Status

100,000150,000 livres per year. Very Some not wealthy, (Sparrow hawks) Superior status, prestigious. Highest nobles were allowed to love amongst the royalty and participate in royal occasions.

Jobs/Professions

Spiritual care, relief for the poop, and hospital care.

Royal, judicial, and administrative posts. Only nobles could become officers in the army. Exemption from duties and taxes. Allowed to hunt without concern for damage, such as damaging a peasants farmland. Exemption from civil laws and crimes.

Privileges

Did not have to pay tax, though had to pay a 5% revenue gift every five years to royalty.

Gideon Richter
Opinions of Absolute rule Absolute rule meant no questions to be asked; they held control over people without the fear of being revolted against. Absolute rule kept the peasants from uprising, which continued their growth in terms of power and wealth. Absolute rule kept a barrier from lower to middle class. Did not have to pay taxes, tailless, property tax or the corvee. When taxes were imposed on goods, they usually bribed the attendant to lower the price. Liberal personnel would eventually contribute to the demise of their class The nobility was not all united about their thoughts of the king or the Old regime Marquis de Lafayette, the conte de Mirabeau, and the Duc dorleans represented the Estates General. Benefited as it allowed the tax collecters to collect as much as double the amount levied by the crown, it kept them wealthy. Did not like absolute rule, it offered very little opportunity for them to get anywhere in life. Paid enormous taxes to the rulers, probably not very happy. Tax collectors (Farmers general) benefited from others paying taxes. Presumably disliked taxes, low income and high taxes led to many people starving to death. Taxed approximately 70% of their income. Still loyal to the Catholic Church and supportive of the monarchy. The Great Fear of 1789 and their involvement in the army. They lived their lives normally as the revolution continued.

Opinions about taxes

Did not have to pay taxes, so they probably thought taxes were pretty good as the taxes of others fed their income and wealth.

Opinions about reform Role in Revolutionary Activity

Attempts of reform led to the church being divided, they failed. Some, more liberal thinking clergy supported change.