1. France during the ancien régime
CHY 4U - October 26, 2009

2. A Tale of Two Cities Clip
I:\School\Practicum I\Powerpoint Movie Links\A Tale Of Two Cities - 3 Estates.avi
What does this clip say about the common citizen in France at the time?
How were peasants viewed at the time by the nobility?
How was this view changing?

3. The ancien régime (Old Order)
The old order was the societal hierarchy that was developed by the monarchy in the middle ages and lasted until the French Revolution
The ancien régime set people into social groups that were thought to be divinely created
Depending on which group a person was in, certain privileges would be allotted to them.
Many people had no privileges.

4. The Three Estates
In the old order, the social groups were called the estates.
French society was divided up into 3 Estates. The social hierarchy was largely defined by which estate you belonged.
The first estate consisted of the clergy
The second estate consisted of the nobility
The third estate consisted of EVERYBODY ELSE

5. The Three Estates
God
The King
1st Estate
2nd Estate
3rd Estate

6. The First Estate “Those who pray”
This group belonged to the clergy and made up of less than 1% of the total population of France
They owned and controlled over 20% of the land in France
Because of religious oaths of poverty, members of the first estate lived modest lives.

7. The First Estate Privileges: Had their own courts
Controlled their own land for religious purposes and could never lose it (mortmain)
Were exempt from most taxes

8. The Second Estate “Those who fight”
This group consisted of the nobility, outside the monarch himself, who was not part of the three estates
Consisted of 0.5% of the total population of France
This group of people too were exempt from paying taxes.
These people were relatively wealthy land owners

9. The Second Estate Privileges: Were allowed to carry a sword
Exempt from most taxes
Exempt from military service (funny considering they were referred to as “those who fight”)
Received special treatment in courts

10. The Third Estate “Those who toil”
This group consisted of people who did not fit into the first two groups
Consisted of over 95% of the total population of France
This group of people paid the most taxes
These people were mostly poor peasants

11. The Third Estate
This group could be divided into two sub-groups: the bourgeoisie and the peasant.
The bourgeoisie were wage earners and intellectuals. Included lawyers, doctors, businesspeople, merchants, soldiers, and craftspeople.
Enlightenment philosophers also part of this group.
Grew in numbers and influence during the late 18th century
Peasants: poor individuals who earned little to no income.
Most lived in rural areas and therefore lived on subsidence off of the land

12. The Third Estate Privileges: Local privileges
Guild privileges – guilds were allowed to hold monopolies on trade in specific areas.

13. Land and the Three Estates
Although the Third Estate owned a majority of the land, the first two estates held a significant and proportionally unfair minority

14. The Estates-General
All laws and decisions were made by the monarch. However, in times of crises, the monarch could call a meeting Estates-General, where a formal meeting of representatives from each estate came to decide on the direction of the country
The Estates-General would have equal representation of each estate and thus equal representation when making decisions

15. The Estates-General
People from each group would write information on their grievances of the country. These were called the cahiers.
Due to the deep economic troubles occurring in France at the time, King Louis XVI called the Estates-General to help remediate the problem.

16. The Meeting of the Estates-General in May 1789

17. The Estates-General
Does this seem fair?

18. The Estates-General
When the third estate lobbied for reform, how do you think the other estates responded?

19. This is what the third estate wanted: They would have to get more radical to achieve it.