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