French society During The Late 18th Century

Question 1

When did French Revolution begin?

Answer 1

14 July 1789

Question 2

When did Louis XVI ascend the throne of France?

Answer 2

1774.

Question 3

How old was Louis XVI when he became king?

Answer 3

20

Question 4

Who was Louis XIV married to ?

Answer 4

Austrian princess Marie Antoinette

Question 5

What did Louis XIV find upon becoming king?

Answer 5

An empty treasury

Question 6

What contributed to the financial strain of France ?

Answer 6

1.Long years of war that drained resources.
2. Cost of maintaining an extravagant court at Versailles

Question 7

Where was the Extravagant court located?

Answer 7

Versailles

Question 8

How did the France assist the American colonies under Louis XIV ?

Answer 8

France helped the thirteen American colonies gain independence from Britain.

Question 9

How did the War impact France’s debt?

Answer 9

The war increased the debt by over a billion livres, making it more than 2 billion livres.

Question 10

How did lenders change their approach toward lending to the state?

Answer 10

Lenders began charging 10% interest on loans.

Question 11

What financial challenges did the French government face due to the increased debt?

Answer 11

The French government was obliged to spend an increasing percentage of its budget on interest payments alone.

Question 12

What compelled the French government to raise taxes ?

Answer 12

To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army, the court, running government offices or universities, the state was forced to increase taxes.

Question 13

Old regime

Answer 13

The term Old Regime is usually used to describe the
society and institutions of France before 1789.

Question 14

How was French society divided in the late eighteenth century?

Answer 14

French society in the eighteenth century was divided
into three estates:
1. Clergy
2. Nobility
3. Third estate

Question 15

What historical system was the society of estates?

Answer 15

Feudal system from the middle ages

Question 16

What percentage of the population were peasants in the 18th century?

Answer 16

90%

Question 17

Who owned the majority of the land in france during this time ?

Answer 17

Nobles, the Church and other richer members of the society

Question 18

Which estates enjoyed Privileges by birth?

Answer 18

Nobles and Clergy

Question 19

What was the last significant privilege enjoyed by first two estates?

Answer 19

Exemption from paying taxes

Question 20

What were the feudal privileges enjoyed by nobles?

Answer 20

1. Exemption from paying taxes.
2. extracting feudal dues from peasants.

Question 21

How were peasants obligated to serve the nobles?

Answer 21

Peasants were obliged to render services to the lord to work in their house and fields, to serve in the army or to participate in building roads.

Question 22

What did the Church extract from peasants as taxes?

Answer 22

Tithes

Question 23

What was the name of the direct tax paid by the third estate?

Answer 23

Taille

Question 24

Who had to pay taxes to the state in the 18th century?

Answer 24

Third estate

Question 25

Which estate bore the burden of financing state activities through taxes?

Answer 25

The third estate

Question 26

What was the population increase in France from 1715 to 1789?

Answer 26

23 million to 28 million

Question 27

What was the consequence of the population increase in France?

Answer 27

a rapid rise in the demand for foodgrains.

Question 28

Why did the price of bread rise rapidly during this time?

Answer 28

the production of grains couldn’t keep up with the increasing demand.

Question 29

What was the primary food for the majority of people in France?

Answer 29

Bread

Question 30

What happened to wages as prices rose?

Answer 30

Wages did not keep pace with the rising prices, resulting in a growing wealth gap.

Question 31

What worsened the economic situation in France during this time?

Answer 31

Natural disasters like drought or hail, which reduced harvests, further worsened the economic situation.

Question 32

Subsistence Crisis

Answer 32

An extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are endangered