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The Ancien Regime of Pre-Revolution France
Libertyville HS
The Ancien Regime• The aristocratic social /
political system est. in France from 1500 to late 1700s
• Characteristics– Divine right of kings– Aristocratic privilege
• Born to status (not earned)• Appointed by king to control
local government, justice system
– Estates system
The Estates System
• Estates = social classes of Ancien Regime
• Three social classes into which people were born
• Royal family “above” the Estate system, not a part of it
Three Estates of France• First Estate = Church
– % of population = .6% (about 200,000)
– High clergy = drawn from nobility
– Lower clergy = commoners– Responsibilities
• Record keeping• Moral police (censored
books)
– Benefits: owned 10-15% of France’s land, tax free
– High clergy paid no taxes
Three Estates of France
• Second Estate = Nobility– About 2% of population,
or 550,000– Duties
• Ran local government, judicial branch
– Benefits• Exempt from most taxes• Right to bear weapons• Coat of arms
Three Estates of France• Third Estate = everyone
else– About 97.5% of population,
or 26.2 million• “Bourgeoisie” = middle class• Peasant farmers & urban
workers
– Duties• Pay taxes (50%+ of income)
to First, Second estates & State
• Work!!! (Farms, factories)• Serve the First, Second
Estates and the State
– Benefits: ???
Factors contributing to French Revolution
• Economic factors– Massive military spending
• Wars of Religion, 1562-1598• 30 Years War, 1618-1648• Wars of Louis XIV, 1667-1697• War of Spanish Succession,
1702-1713• Seven Years War, 1756-1763• American Revolution, 1778-83
– Unmanageable national debt– Inequitable taxation system– High food prices
Factors contributing to French Revolution
• Social / Political Factors– Resentments of 3rd
Estate– Enlightenment ideas of
liberty and republicanism– King seen as out of
touch• Evil ministers + good king
perception• Firing ministers story