Society and Economy Under the Old Regime Social History in the 18 th Century

Characteristics of The Old Regime Absolutism Absolutism Large Bureaucracy and Armies Large Bureaucracy and Armies Urban Labor Force: Guilds Urban Labor Force: Guilds Rural Peasantry: Taxed heavily Rural Peasantry: Taxed heavily –Pay for Aristocratic Privilege Desire to maintain status quo Desire to maintain status quo

Challenges to the Old Regime Increase population Increase population Increased Consumer Demand Increased Consumer Demand Increase of Food Costs Increase of Food Costs Increased Intellectual Developments Increased Intellectual Developments Peasants on the Verge of Famine Peasants on the Verge of Famine Changing Social Classes Changing Social Classes –Growth of Cities and Urban Population –Greater Demand on Crop Production

Western Aristocracy British Nobility British Nobility –Most Responsible of Aristocrats –Balanced Interest in Parliament House of Lords and House of Commons House of Lords and House of Commons –Smallest and Wealthiest Nobles in Europe –Noble and Common Man Pay Taxes –Dominated Local Government (Counties)

Western Aristocracy French Nobility Split into Two Groups French Nobility Split into Two Groups –Nobility of the Sword and Nobility of the Robe –Exempt From Taxes and Corvées –Expensive to maintain prominent status in government

Eastern Aristocracy Polish Nobility (Szlachta) Polish Nobility (Szlachta) –Right of Life and Death Over Serfs –Exempt From all Taxes –Relatively Poor but the Few With Immense Estates had Political Power Austria and Hungary Austria and Hungary –Broad Judicial Powers by Manorial Courts –Local Nobility Wield Significant Power –Various Degrees of Tax Exemption

Eastern Aristocracy Prussia Prussia –Nobles Made up Bureaucracy and Army Officers –Extensive Judicial Authority Russia Russia –Table of Ranks –Widows Inherited Rank (Title) of Husband –Harshest Repression on Serfs –Exempt from Personal Taxes

Family and Economy in the 18 th Century Agricultural Revolution Agricultural Revolution Urbanization Urbanization –Emerging modern class system –Upper class rule cities –Poor artisans and shopkeepers organize into guilds Early Industrial Revolution Early Industrial Revolution –Begins in Great Britain –New Methods of Textile production –The Steam Engine –Iron Production –Coal Consumption Lower Class Riots very common Lower Class Riots very common

Impact on Family Cottage Industries (West) Cottage Industries (West) Family means of production and consumption Family means of production and consumption East vs West East vs West –Western Families Grow Smaller, nuclear (Pre- industrialized) –Eastern Families remain large and extended (Agrarian) Urbanization Urbanization –Cities serve as Industrial centers Market towns Financial centers Capital cities (National and Regional) Growth overwhelms city governments Growth overwhelms city governments Conditions for poor are atrocious. Conditions for poor are atrocious. Private philanthropy assist poor Private philanthropy assist poor

Impact of Women and Children Women Women Increased role in household economy Increased role in household economy Decreased role in textiles (temporary) Decreased role in textiles (temporary) Displaced peasant women become servants Displaced peasant women become servants Increased promiscuity and unwanted children Increased promiscuity and unwanted children Children Children –Participated in Family economy –Son would carry on family business –Extras would become servants as teens or join the work force –Increase in orphans –Infanticide