Ancien Regime

Question 1

Ancien Regime def.

Answer 1

The political & social system of France until the French Revolution of 1789

Question 2

First Estate

Answer 2

The Clergy (leaders of the church)

Formed less than 0.5% of the population but owned roughly 10% of French land.

The Church controlled education, hospitals & relief of the poor

Question 3

Second Estate

Answer 3

The nobility.

Less than 1% of the population, owned 25-35% of French land.

Question 4

Third Estate

Answer 4

Nearly 28 million people

Bourgouise, Peasants and labourers

Question 5

Privileges of the Estates

Answer 5

Clergy - Paid no tax, instead made an annual 16 million livre grant (5% of income).

Nobility - Exempt from the taille (Land Tax) & the corvees royale (Labour service on the roads). Exempt from military conscription unless they wished to serve

The bourgeoisie was frustrated as the nobility held the higher posts in the army & were exempt from many taxes. Thus, a well-educated part of French society grew resentful of the Ancien Regime

Question 6

Burdens of the 3rd Estate

Answer 6

Poorest class of society carried the heaviest burden. They paid rent & taxes to the Lord of the Manor on their grain harvest. Paid the TAILLE (land tax) & GABELLE (salt tax), did labour on the roads & could be conscripted to the army. They paid the TITHE to the church

Question 7

Government under Louis

3

Answer 7

Louis met ministers individually rather than making decisions collectively, meaning ministers and court-factions often worked against each other.

France had no single representative body - legislation had to be ratified by 1 of 13 regional parlements.

France was a patchwork of different bodies & legal systems & it clearly needed a strong leader who could reform the system. Louis could not deliver