Explain What Was French Society Like In The 18th Century

405 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Society during french revolution

What was French society like in the 18th century? During the 18th century, French society can best be described as divided. The main reasons for this are; the economic divide of the three separate estates, the difference between rural and city life and lastly, the absolute rule of KIng Louis XIV. At the time, France was made up of three estates, you didn't get the option to choose which estate you belonged to- you were born into it. The first estate was the clergy, which made up less than one percent of the population. You didn’t need to be born into the clergy, however you did need to have access to education, money and their connections.The second estate were the Nobles, which consisted of two kinds; one being passed down through old

Show More
Related

  • French Revolution Dbq Essay

    1455 Words  | 3 Pages

    Under the rule of Louis XVI, the people of France were divided into three main social classes or estates as they are called. The First Estate featured wealthy members of the Church such as Bishops and Priests who held great political power due to their influence on government affairs. The Second Estate was a class comprised of the wealthy nobles and political officials who held all power in government affairs.

    Read More

  • The Three Most Important Causes Of The French Revolution

    1134 Words  | 3 Pages

    Historian Albert Mathiez states that “The middle class… was sensitive to their inferior legal position. The revolution came from them- the middle class. The working classes were incapable of starting or controlling the Revolution. They were just beginning to learn to read.” The middle class were not able to have a class on their own; they were still considered peasants. In the illustration it showed how much people and land each estate held, the Clergy was one percent of the population which owned ten percent of the land. Nobles were two percent of the people that owned thirty-five percent of the land. The middle class, peasants, and city workers were ninety-seven of the people owned fifty-five percent of the land. This means that if the third estate were to riot, this would cause havoc. There was a lot during that time; the website Macrohistory and World Timeline shows that “The population of France had grown to between 24 and 26 million, up from 19 million in 1700 without a concomitant growth in food production. Farmers around Paris consumed over 80 percent of what they grew, so if a harvest fell by around 10 percent, which was common, people went hungry. There was insufficient government planning and storage of grain for emergency shortages”. If there were approximately 26 million people, there would be 25,220,000 people in the third estate, 520,000 people in the second estate, and 260,000

    Read More

  • Differences Between The French Revolution And The English Civil War

    1155 Words  | 3 Pages

    The social condition in France before the French Revolution was very poor. The society was divided into three estates: first estate, second estate, and third Estate. The first and the second estates were made up of the Clergy

    Read More

  • Everyday Life in Sixteenth Century France

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    The lifestyle in France, just like in all other European countries, has changed dramatically since the early 1700’s. People went from farmers to factory owners to all of the professions of today’s society. The main reason for the great changes in lifestyle that occurred in France was the Industrial Revolution, which urbanized most of France. But the Industrial Revolution was not the only thing that changed France. The monarchy fell the church changed, and the role people had in their jobs and family life change drastically.

    Read More

  • The French Revolution

    914 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the eighteenth century, France was one of the most richest and prosperous countries in Europe, but many of the peasants were not happy with the way France was being ruled. On July 14, 1789, peasants and soldiers stormed the Bastille and initiated the French Revolution. This essay will analyze the main causes of the French Revolution, specifically, the ineffectiveness of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate, and the Enlightenment. It will also be argued that the most significant factor that caused the French Revolution is the ineffective leadership of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

    Read More

  • The French Revolution

    882 Words  | 2 Pages

    The French Revolution evokes many different emotions and controversial issues in that some believe it was worth the cost and some don't. There is no doubt that the French Revolution did have major significance in history. Not only did the French gain their independence, but an industrial revolution also took place. One of the main issues of the Revolution was it's human costs. Two writers, the first, Peter Kropotkin who was a Russian prince, and the other Simon Schama, a history professor, both had very opposing views on whether the wars fought by France during the Revolution were worth it's human costs. Krapotkin believed that the French Revolution was the main turning point for not only France but for most other countries as well. On the other hand, Schama viewed the French Revolution as unproductive and excessively violent.

    Read More

  • Urban Poverty French Revolution Essay

    725 Words  | 2 Pages

    Peasants, who, again formed the vast majority of the population, owned 40% of France’s total land. However, they were also the most heavily taxed. They “alone [paid] the taille” as well as a bulk of taxes despite them being aimed toward the nobles. Taxes consumed most of a lower class citizens income, which left them with only enough to life in discomfort. Most could afford only to feed their families.

    Read More

  • The French Revolution: Avoidable Or Inevitable?

    945 Words  | 2 Pages

    The social differences in France were very unreasonable. People openly argued that “social differences should not be defined by law, as they were in the old regimes order” (2). In France, much of the inequality came from the social class system. It led to angry peasants and tons of revolting. This could have been avoided if France maintained equality for all estates, as it would have been rational. In addition, the clergy and nobles were given many rights which “included top jobs in government, the army, the courts, and the Church” (109). This was very biased as they were able to get the highest jobs, not because they earned it, but because of their social stature. Meanwhile, commoners or bourgeoisie, were not granted those jobs even if they had the ability to do them. This caused much of the third estate to become mad which led to uncivilized manner in France. If the government had just given equal rights and granted jobs by merit opposed to social class rankings, there would have been less drama between the estates and everything would have been

    Read More

  • Causes of the French Revolution

    530 Words  | 2 Pages

    The people of France were divided into three estates. The first estate was composed of the highest church officials. They held about ten percent of all the land in France. They paid no direct taxes to the royal government. The second estate was made up of nobles.

    Read More

  • Causes of the French Revolution

    1384 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Third Estate consisted of everyone else, the pheasants, farmers, landless labourers, serfs and the emerging middle class called the bourgeois. 80% of the population was rural and were very highly taxed by the king, like the rest of the Third Estate.... ... middle of paper ... ... Overall, the weakness and indecisive actions of France's monarch, King Louis XVI, did not make those serving him respect or be loyal to him and his choices.

    Read More

  • The Privileges of the First and Second Estates in France in the 1780's

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Privileges of the First and Second Estates in France in the 1780's Under the Ancien Régime, the French people were divided, according to their status, into ‘estates’ or social groups. These groups were very unequal in size and power. It is difficult to give exact figures for this period, but it is estimated that the First Estate, the clergy, had around 170,000 members, the Second Estate, the nobility, had 300,000-400,000 members, while the remaining Third Estate made up the rest of the population. Louis XVI was an absolute monarch and under his regime, the people of France had to pay taxes, which went towards the army, the public officials and the luxurious life that the royal family led at the Palace of Versailles. Even though the Third Estate was the poorest overall, the unfair Ancien Régime meant that the huge burden of taxes fell mainly upon them.

    Read More

  • Society During the French Revolution

    1775 Words  | 4 Pages

    The thesis of this study is how society was during the French Revolution from 1789 to 1799. The French Revolution during this time went through significant changes from the beginning when society was run by the wealthy class and being undemocratic and changed to being a democratic state. From 1789 to 1799, the French Revolution was a “cataclysmic political and social upheaval.” French society was going through a hard period in France.

    Read More

  • Causes and Effects of the French Revolution

    2273 Words  | 5 Pages

    Each social group had a varied type of people within their structure, which presented the different views of the people. The First Estate was the Church. During the ancien regime, the church was equal in terms of its social, economic, and spiritual power. The First Estate owned nearly 10 per cent of all land in France.

    Read More

  • How Inevitable Was The French Revolution Inevitable?

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    In France’s estates hierarchy you are not able to move up in estates, you have to inherit your status from birth. Some people would never have to work a day in their lives and some would have to work everyday of their lives. “Because these privileges were

    Read More

  • The French Revolution

    424 Words  | 1 Pages

    The third estate (made up ninety-eight percent of the population) was the people who wanted to be equal to the nobles and clergy. The clergy and nobles made up the First and Second Estate. They first two estates had overruling power in the government than the Third Estate. This was one of the reasons of the Storm of Bastille. They were knowledgeable of the ‘existing conditions.’ The social class was the main thing separating the people of France. There was a lack of social mobility also, causing people to be based on lineage, rather than wealth.

    Read More

More about Explain What Was French Society Like In The 18th Century

Open Document