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Reflection Questions. What were the two ‘privileged estates’? What aspects of these estates may have attracted criticism and resentment?. The First Estate: The clergy Made up only 0.6% of the population and owned 10% of the land in France
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What were the two ‘privileged estates’? What aspects of these estates may have attracted criticism and resentment?
The First Estate: The clergy • Made up only 0.6% of the population and owned 10% of the land in France • The church hierarchy was a privileged group of about 1000 high clergy (bishops and arch bishops), all of which were noble. • Virtually impossible for a person of common birth to rise to top of hierarchy • Wealthy • Exempt from the royal taxes- paying a only a voluntary donation (don gratuit) • Tithe- a tax of 8-10% of people’s income, or the value of their crops and livestock
The Second Estate: The nobility • Made up 0.4% of population • Owned 30% of land in France • Exempt from most taxes • Dominated the highest administrative posts in government and the Church (army, navy, diplomatic corps) • Inherited their title
Bourgeoisie (2 million) • Artisans (2 million) • Landowning Farmers (5 million) • Day labourers (5 million) • Serfs (1 million)
A formal assembly of representatives from all Three Estates, summoned by the monarch. The role of the Estates General was to provide information and counsel to the crown, usually on matters of pressing importance. However, it had no executive or legislative authority.
Lists of grievancessummarising public dissatisfactions, opinions and recommendations, presented to the Estates-General 1789.
What reforms did all three Estates agree upon in their Cahiers?
POLITICAL REFORM - Absolute power? - Meeting of the General-Estates • FISCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM - spending of revenue and taxes reviewed regularly - gabelle tax abolished
In what sense can it be said that working people began to ‘think politically’ about their traditional problems?
France’s financial and political crisis was no secret to the people • They were now aware of the implications that current political problems had on their material problems
http://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/history/1600s-1800s/french-revolution-tutorial/v/french-revolution--part-1http://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/history/1600s-1800s/french-revolution-tutorial/v/french-revolution--part-1