CH3 sec. 3.2 The Ancien Régime

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Memo havo 2 TTO

CH3 The age of wigs and revolutions

The French Revolution

sec. 3.2 The Ancien Régime

Learning objectives

Main question: What were the problems in the French estate-based society in the 18th century?

• You can explain that French society was divided into groups (estates), each with its own place and tasks.
  
• You can explain that there were major differences within the Third Estate
  
• You can explain how privileges caused inequality in French society.
  
• You can explain why different groups within the Third Estate were unhappy.
  
• You can explain how France was governed in the 18th century.
  
• You can explain why King Louis XVI called an assembly of the States General.
  
• You know the terms and dates from this section.

Estate-based society

France was a  estate-based society (standenmaatschappij).  
Your place in society (estate) was determined by birth. 
Society consisted of three estates:  

• 1st estate: clergy  
• 2nd estate: nobility   
• 3rd estate: rest of society (around 98%)
  

Estate-based society

Every estate had its own task and place in society:

• 1st estate: pray
• 2nd estate: fight (help king govern).
• 3rd estate: work (provide food and goods) 
  

Estate-based society

There were big differences within the 3rd estate.
To this estate belonged: (in order of importance!) 

• Wealthy citizens in the cities. Merchants, lawyers, judges, bankers, etc). This group is also called bourgeoisie.  
• Artisan (crafspeople) and shopkeepers
• The farmers in rural areas and poorly-paid labourers in the cities.  
  

Estates-based society

• Lowest layer had to work hard (especially the farmers).
• Many farmers only owned small pieces of land or leased (rented) land from landlords. 
  
• After payment of rent and taxes, there was little left for themselves.

Estates-based society

• Although some members of the 3rd estate (bourgeoisie) were rich they had no say in government.
• Couldn't get an important function in Church, administration or army.

Estates-based society

Changing estates

• From the 3rd estate you could move to the 1st estate by becoming a (low status) cleric (priest, monk, nun).
• From the 2nd estate you could move to the 1st estate by becoming a high clergymen (bishop, cardinal, pope).
• You could only get into the 2nd estate by birth.
  

What is an estate-based society?

1. A society in which there's great equality
2. A society divided into estates
3. A society that revolved around religion
4. A society ruled by clerics

How many estates were there in 18th century France?

1. 1 estate
2. 2 estates
3. 3 estates
4. 4 estates

What were the three estates in 18th century France?

1. Clergy, nobility, 3rd estate (soldiers)
2. Soldiers, nobility, 3rd estate (citizens/workers/farmers)
3. Clergy, nobility, 3rd estate (citizens/workers/farmers)

Privileges

Only the 1st and 2nd estates had privileges:

• Only the nobility could get high positions in the Church, administration and army. 
• The 1st and 2nd estates didn't have to pay taxes, but could collect taxes. 
• The 1st and 2nd estates had their own court of justice. 
  

Privileges

Duties of the 3rd estate:

• Farmers had to work at least 1 day a week for the 1st and 2nd estates free of charge (= feudal services / servile duties).
• People from the 3rd estate had to pay taxes.
  

• People from the 3rd estate would receive more severe punishments when they committed a crimes than the 1st and 2nd estates. 

Privileges

• The 3rd estate was the only estate that payed taxes.
• The payment of taxes led to big problems.
• People also paid extra taxes when they bought products: for example food (3/4 of the state revenue).
  
• The taxes on food were increased.
  
• As a result food became very expensive: problem for the poor!

Privileges

• When harvests failed, farmers still had to pay taxes.
• People of the 3rd state became even more displeased. 
• Wealthy citizens (bourgeoisie) could afford to pay the taxes, but wanted a say in government in return.

Which of the three estates was treated in a inequal manner?

1. the 1st estate
2. the 2nd estate
3. the 3rd estate

With estates had mostly rights and very few duties?

1. The farmers, citizens and nobility
2. The clergy and nobility
3. The clergy, the farmers and citizens
4. The citizens, clergy and nobility

"We do pay taxes, but have no say in government. That is unfair! "
To which group does this statement belong?

1. Farmers
2. Wealthy citizens
3. Nobility
4. Clergy

A mighty ruler

• At the end of the 18th century, Louis XVI was king of France.
  
• He held all power, as it had been in France for centuries: He was an absolute monarch. 
  

A mighty ruler

• Louis XVI ruled from Versailles, his palace just outside of Paris.

A mighty ruler

• Louis XVI was advised by clergymen and nobles.
• This type of government was later called the Ancient Régime.  
  

A mighty ruler

• When Louis XVI became king, there were major problems.
  
• France was prosperous, but the administration almost went bankrupt around 1788.
  
• Spending on wars was too high.
  
• There were too many debts that in turn led to high interest rates that had to be paid.

A mighty ruler

• Another problem was the spending of the royal couple.
  
• The French queen Marie Antoinette was not popular in France.

A mighty ruler

• She had very expensive clothes and organised decadent parties.
  
• Her nickname was "Madam Deficit" and the French saw her as the symbol of the rich people that they hated.

A mighty ruler

• It was almost impossible for the king to levy even more taxes.
  
• So a change had to be made to the tax system.

A mighty ruler

• The king came up with the solution: the nobility and clergy also had to pay taxes.
  
• He needed the States General to change the tax system.

A mighty ruler

• The States General had not assembled for 175 years.
  
• The representatives of the estates had to approve the plans of the king.

A mighty ruler

• The States General met in May 1789, but even before negotiations about taxes began, the estates started to argue.

How was it that the French treasury was almost empty?

1. War expenses
2. High debts and interest rates
3. Spending of the royal couple
4. All answers are correct

How did Louis XVI want to solve the money problems?

1. Let the 3rd pay more taxes
2. Make the 1st and 2nd estates pay taxes

What was so special about Louis XVI calling for an assembly of the States General?

1. An absolute monarch rules alone
2. This hadn't happened for 175 years
3. A and B are both correct
4. A and B are both incorrect

Get to work

What? See whiteboard.

How? Alone 

Help? Ask neighbour. Can't figure it out? Ask teacher. 

Time? Until the end of the lesson. 

Done? Learn terms and dates. Ask teacher.