Question: Describe the main features of the Ancien Regime in France.

How far the Kings position (a) was strengthened (b) weakened by the structure of the ancien regime?

Feudalism was an internal, selective governing system that flourished in many medieval European countries during the fifth and twelfth centuries, due to the influence commencing after the Norman Conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. A feudal state allowed the concentration of power to be held at the pinnacle of the pyramid, where the King, lords and the clergy would retain the right to own land, be excluded the right to pay tax or even receive rents and dues from those attached to the land. The Ancien Regime, also known as the Old (or Ancient) Regime was the notable feudal system in pre-revolutionary France. The Ancien Regime was the source for the rooted causes of the revolution in France in the later years, due to the irregularities in taxation, law and divisions in society. In France, the scheme was devised so that power lay with the King and his most loyal subjects: those of nobility or the clergy. The Ancien Regime was noted for features that were able to link and distinguish it from the originality of the basic feudal system. Society was fragmented into three Estates, (the First, Second and Third). Each estate was entitled to certain rights and privileges, for example, the First Estate compromised of the clergy, who were exempt from taxation and grew wealth from the land it owned and the taxes (tithes) it gained from it, in contrast to the Third Estate (despite having the largest social division within an Estate), citizens in the Estate had to pay numerous taxes to those of the Estates above. Moreover, regional divisions and districts displaced the absolute monarchy that the King inherited (opposing the entire Estate system completely); instead, lieutenants gnraux or provincial governors retained and flexed certain powers within regions, where some taxes where higher than others or significantly reduced. France was no exception to financial crises, previously engaging in wars that were costly and expensive, as well as being drains on reserves. Reliance upon these taxes placed severe pressure on the Third Estate, (who relied upon the land for agriculture or the skilled bourgeoisie to pay) did not claim any tax for the higher Estates, where tax income would have decreased debts that plagued France due to overspending and war. Despite differences at home, France had received credit for the participation of the American Revolutionary War as well as contributing to the debts and adding to the loss of colonies abroad. This key event may have perhaps triggered the ideology of a country run by a government that was chosen by the people and acted for the people, significantly influenced by the Declaration of Independence (which would then go on to have the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen written thirteen years later.)

The Ancien Regime did no favours for the King and may have weakened his position and damaged his authoritative role in society. His lack of care in preserving the well being of his country and enforcing the power to reform the burdens that the country was facing demonstrated the ability of such a leader in order to maintain a just regime. It could be noted that King Louis XVIs reign over France resulted in an unfair and imbalanced regime, where equality and freedom was not an open choice (being across all aspects of the running of a country). Decisions that could have resulted in a beneficial reform may have perhaps, boosted morale between the lower Estates and lowered the social divisions, in order to

achieve the fair and equal society that was established after the Revolution. Controlling such a position with ideas that may have angered some of the Estates (an order of tax on the First Estate would have generated some backlash) and being able to financially ensure that the country was efficiently running smoothly would have not been an easy task. The movement known as the Enlightenment began to question and challenge the reasons and decisions of government, whilst emphasising the need for the important influence over the destiny of the France, to destroy the inequalities across the social spectrum, whilst absorbing ideas of equality and freedom of the individual and attack the prejudice that was evident. Many writers and social theorists, such as Voltaire (famous for works such as Candide), JeanJacques Rousseau, Baron de Montesquieu as well as many others who began, or was beginning to lay the foundations for a revolution. On the other hand, the Ancien Regime may have significantly strengthened the Kings position abroad since towards the 18th Century, France was beginning to be recognised for leading modern fashion, and styles of behaviour in Europe. As a language, French was deemed sophisticated and the most civilised language being used by nobility who passionately devoted themselves to art, architecture, clothing and literature. Such a rapid growth and influence to the world around it, France, in some ways was seen as being a leader and perhaps model for other movements and later styles.

In all, the Ancien Regime brought about many key issues that needed to be addressed (and to ascertain a solution), as well as highlight the serious flaws in the Regime. The Regime may also have brought about its own downfall, due to the lack of the preservation and maintenance of fair policies and just laws for all in order to achieve a more equal structure than that of the Feudal pyramid. Despite this, the Regime also laid the groundwork to allow citizens (mainly the social theorists and philosophes) to begin to ask for change, and begin building a New France.