Old Regime
- France was considered the most advanced country
- Large population
- Center of Enlightenment
- France had great unrest caused by
- bad harvets, high prices, high taxes, and disturbing questions caused by Elightenment Ideas of Locke, Rousseau, and Voltaire
- This caused the Old Regime or the social and political system of France
- Divided into three large social classes of estates
- First estate- Made up 1% of the population which was the clergy
- Owned 10% of the land in France
- Provided education and relief services to the poor
- About 2% of their income went to the government
- Second estate- Nobles made up 2% of the population
- Owned 20% of the land
- Paid almost no taxes
- Third estate- Mostly made up of peasants and middle class citizens and made up 97% of the population
- Three groups in the third estate which differed greatly
- Peasants and Urban Poor resent the clergy and nobles for their privilages and special treatment
- Ready for change and to be treated equal as the rest of the estates
- First group- Bourgeoisie or middle class
- Bankers, Factory owners, Merchants, Professionals, and Skilled artisans
- Often educated, paid high taxes, and lacked privileges
- Second group-Workers of france
- Poorest group- tradespeople, apprentices, laborers, and domestic serveants
- Paid low wages and out of work the majority of the time
- Third group- Peasants
- Made up 80% of population
- paid half income in dues to nobles, tithes to church, and taxes to the king's agents
- Paid taxes on staples and salt