Collapse of the
Ancient Regime
French Society- The Estates
The First Estate – The Clergy
• Catholic country = position
of authority
• Upper positions in the
church -held by noble
families
• Monarch supposed to
uphold the authority of the
church
• Wealthy organization that
still collected tithes but paid
no taxes
• Owned 10-20% of the land
in France
Second Estate – the Nobility
• Nobles of the Sword:
• Traditional feudal nobility
• Descendants of medieval
nobles
• Received privileges in
exchange for service to
the king
• Traditionally served as
king’s advisors
•
•
•
•
•
Nobles of the Robe:
Recently created (Louis XIV) intendants,
Dominate the parlements
Play an increasing role in local government
First group to rebel
The Third Estate
Anyone not included in the first two
estates (97% of the population)
• Most were peasants
• Bourgeoisie – professionals;
influential people
– Felt they were the most productive
element in society
– Paid the most taxes and did the most
work
– Felt deep grievances towards the first
two estates
– Began to see themselves speaking
for the whole population through the
Third Estate
Factors in the collapse
 Changes in thought
 Demographic/economic
problems
 Financial weakness
 Failure to reform
Changes in Thought
•
•
•
•
Question, reason, make choices
Monarchy slow to see danger in new thinking
Encouraged a movement that challenged authority
Fashionable to be sceptical
Demographics
•
•
•
•
•
Population increase of 30 %
No industrial revolution – Britain had already started
Pressure on land and food supplies
7 Years War (1763) denied France a colonial empire
No social or economic safety valve
• Prosperity, stability, tax revenue depend on trade
with America and Europe- vulnerable to unrest
• Entrance into American Revolution 1778 on
colonist side danger to regime
• Double standard – supporting liberties not
provided to his own people
• Settle the score with Britain- high risk, doesn't
pay off
Impact of participation in American Rev.:
– Disrupted trade, little to no post war benefit
– Britain not mortally wounded
– Cost 1066 million livres
– Indebted problems ends in government
bankruptcy
Expenses
Income
Finances
6.04%
Loans
21.37%
Court Expenditure
5.67%
Lotteries
2.62%
Administration, justice, etc
3.03%
Various Items
4.20%
Welfare in state regions
2.80%
Direct taxes
24.60%
Public Economy
3.68%
Indirect taxes
32.47%
Public ed. and welfare
1.94%
2.23%
War
16.83%
Monopolies and
industrial ventures
Navy and colonies
7.18%
Produce of royal lands
7.86%
Foreign Affairs
2.28%
Dues from state districts
4.64%
Servicing of the regular
debt
29.59%
Various expenses linked to 5.03%
debt
Repayment of capital
11.70%
Pensions
4.32%
Reconstructed by F. Braesch, cited in
F. Aftalion. The French Revolution: An
Economic Interpretation, Cambridge
UP, 1990, pp196-7
Financial Weakness
• Court remained
extravagant – 10 000
people live and work
• Narrow tax base, first and
second estate exempt
from most taxes
• ½ of revenue needed to
pay interest on loans
• Needed tax reform –
everyone needed to pay
Failure to Reform
Why do reforms not work?
– King depends on first and second estate for
his divine authority
– Louis XVI authority inadequate to this task,
he’s indecisive and not authoritative
– Enlightenment created a 50% literacy rate
– Wide market for tabloid information on royals,
discredits royals
– Vested interest against new proposed taxes
– Louis lacks the authority to enforce it
Aristocratic Revolt
• Begins as an uprising by the Nobility
• Nobility:
– Defend their exemption from taxes, considered an
insult, only for commoners
– Assert themselves through the parlements
• Parlements – sovereign legal courts
• All laws needed to be registered by them
• Refuse to agree to new taxes and instead ask to
call the Estates-General
• 1788 government backs down
• 1789 Estates-General called, politically the
ancient regime is at an end
• The stage for the people’s revolution is set
Homework
Read pages 159-162 and take point form notes on
the following:
• Parlements – purpose, establishment
• Social mobility
• Calling the Estates-General
• Abbe Sieyes
• National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath
• Storming of the Bastille