1. France: The Old Regime

2. Journal #

3. Old Regime – the social and political system of France before the revolution
French society divided up into three estates or three classes – since the Middle Ages!
These estates or classes battle each other during the French Revolution, afterward during Napoleon’s time, and several more times
Basic problem – system is built on inequity

4. First Estate
Made up of Roman Catholic Church clergy = 1% of population
Owned 10% of land
Taxes = 2% of income paid to government (voluntary contribution given every 5 years)
Provided education and relief services to the poor
Scorned enlightenment ideas
Divided: high clergy to parish priests who were often poor commoners

5. Second Estate Rich nobles = 2% of the population Owned 20% of the land
Paid no taxes
Held high offices in government, courts, and the military
Nobility of the robe=status from office holding
Nobility of the sword=status as descendants of original medieval nobility
Disagreed with enlightenment ideas

6. Third Estate Everyone else – 97% of population
Bourgeoisie (middle class) = 8% of population
Traders, merchants, artisans
Owned 20-25% of the land
Sometimes wealthy but paid high taxes
No access to power like the 1st and 2nd estates had

7. Third Estate Urban lower class = 14% of of population
Workers who lived in cities
Apprentices, laborers, servants, maids
Paid little, would often riot if food was not available

8. Third Estate Peasants = 75% of population
Owned 35-40% of land (over half had no land)
50% of their income paid in taxes to government and tithes to the church
Very bitter and resentful toward nobility (2nd estate)

9. Classroom = France
Desks = Land
Notes taken = taxes paid