French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century

The Ancien Régime: A Society Divided

French society was rigidly structured under what was known as the Ancien Régime (Old Regime). This system divided society into three main "Estates," each with distinct rights and responsibilities.

1. The First Estate: The Clergy

   This Estate comprised the Church and its officials. They enjoyed immense privileges, owned vast tracts of land, and were exempt from paying taxes.

2. The Second Estate: The Nobility

   The nobility consisted of aristocrats who inherited their titles or acquired them. Like the clergy, they enjoyed significant privileges, including exemption from many taxes. They held key positions in the army and government and lived lavish lifestyles, often supported by feudal dues extracted from peasants. ( Taxes and Other exploits)

3. The Third Estate: The Common People

   This vast Estate encompassed everyone else, from wealthy merchants and prosperous professionals (lawyers, doctors, teachers) to peasants, artisans, and landless laborers. Despite making up about 90% of the population, they bore the brunt of taxation and had virtually no political rights or social standing. Within the Third Estate, there were further divisions, with the educated and relatively prosperous "bourgeoisie" beginning to chafe under the restrictions imposed by the privileged First and Second Estates.