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France during the ancien régime. CHY 4U - October 26, 2009. A Tale of Two Cities Clip. I:SchoolPracticum IPowerpoint Movie LinksA Tale Of Two Cities - 3 Estates.avi What does this clip say about the common citizen in France at the time?
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France during the ancien régime CHY 4U - October 26, 2009
A Tale of Two Cities Clip • I:\School\Practicum I\Powerpoint Movie Links\A Tale Of Two Cities - 3 Estates.avi • What does this clip say about the common citizen in France at the time? • How were peasants viewed at the time by the nobility? • How was this view changing?
The ancien régime (Old Order) • The old order was the societal hierarchy that was developed by the monarchy in the middle ages and lasted until the French Revolution • The ancien régime set people into social groups that were thought to be divinely created • Depending on which group a person was in, certain privileges would be allotted to them. • Many people had no privileges.
The Three Estates • In the old order, the social groups were called the estates. • French society was divided up into 3 Estates. The social hierarchy was largely defined by which estate you belonged. • The first estate consisted of the clergy • The second estate consisted of the nobility • The third estate consisted of EVERYBODY ELSE
The Three Estates God The King 1st Estate 2nd Estate 3rd Estate
The First Estate • “Those who pray” • This group belonged to the clergy and made up of less than 1% of the total population of France • They owned and controlled over 20% of the land in France • Because of religious oaths of poverty, members of the first estate lived modest lives.
The First Estate • Privileges: • Had their own courts • Controlled their own land for religious purposes and could never lose it (mortmain) • Were exempt from most taxes
The Second Estate • “Those who fight” • This group consisted of the nobility, outside the monarch himself, who was not part of the three estates • Consisted of 0.5% of the total population of France • This group of people too were exempt from paying taxes. • These people were relatively wealthy land owners
The Second Estate • Privileges: • Were allowed to carry a sword • Exempt from most taxes • Exempt from military service (funny considering they were referred to as “those who fight”) • Received special treatment in courts
The Third Estate • “Those who toil” • This group consisted of people who did not fit into the first two groups • Consisted of over 95% of the total population of France • This group of people paid the most taxes • These people were mostly poor peasants
The Third Estate • This group could be divided into two sub-groups: the bourgeoisie and the peasant. • The bourgeoisie were wage earners and intellectuals. Included lawyers, doctors, businesspeople, merchants, soldiers, and craftspeople. • Enlightenment philosophers also part of this group. • Grew in numbers and influence during the late 18th century • Peasants: poor individuals who earned little to no income. • Most lived in rural areas and therefore lived on subsidence off of the land
The Third Estate • Privileges: • Local privileges • Guild privileges – guilds were allowed to hold monopolies on trade in specific areas.
Land and the Three Estates • Although the Third Estate owned a majority of the land, the first two estates held a significant and proportionally unfair minority
The Estates-General • All laws and decisions were made by the monarch. However, in times of crises, the monarch could call a meeting Estates-General, where a formal meeting of representatives from each estate came to decide on the direction of the country • The Estates-General would have equal representation of each estate and thus equal representation when making decisions
The Estates-General • People from each group would write information on their grievances of the country. These were called the cahiers. • Due to the deep economic troubles occurring in France at the time, King Louis XVI called the Estates-General to help remediate the problem.
The Estates-General Does this seem fair?
The Estates-General When the third estate lobbied for reform, how do you think the other estates responded?
This is what the third estate wanted: They would have to get more radical to achieve it.