What is themessage of the

source?

The Ancien Regime: How did the three estates work?

For your estate consider:1. Who made the membership of the estate?

Were there differences between members?2. What role did the members play in French

society? How powerful were they?3. What privileges did they enjoy under the

ancien regime?

First Estate

• Clergy – Bishops, Archbishops, parish priests (curés).

• Power derived from importance of religion.

• Privileges:• Exemption from military service;• Exemption from taxes (offered grants – dons gratuits –

instead);• Right to be tried in church courts.

Second Estate• Nobility, including members of the royal family alongside

provincial noblemen; traditionally landowners.

• Nobility of the Sword – hereditary nobles.

• Nobility of the Robe – status derived from job/position.• Privileges:

• Exemption from taxes (taille, corvée);• Ceremonial rights;• Legal rights.

Third Estate

• Everyone else – university professors, merchants, tramps.

• Bourgeoisie – skilled classes, no privileges.

• Peasantry – no privileges, forced to pay feudal dues to their masters.

• Opportunities for wealthy/ambitious members to buy their way into 2nd Estate.

TaxationDirect:Taille: Land TaxCapitation: Tax on peopleVingtième: 5% tax on income

Indirect:Gabelle: Salt taxOctrois: Tax on goods entering a townAides: Tax on food and drink

Corvée: unpaid labour service to maintain roads (in many cases, money replaced service).

Why were there inequalities in the ancien

régime?

Explain why questions: 2 minutes thinking 10 minutes writing 

· Explaining an event

· Explaining a development

· Explaining an issue

Testing the understanding of causation and ability to make a judgement.

· 3 separate reasons (with separate paragraphs)

· Link between paragraphs (using vocabulary)

· 2/3 sentence conclusion: emphasising how the reasons inter-link

· Precise supporting evidence (key dates/ names / events/ places).

· Make links between the factors.