Challenges to the French
System
French Revolution Lecture 2
Lesson Overview:
We will be looking
at the following
challenges
experienced by
the Ancien
Regime.
Social Structure
Political Challenge
Financial Crisis
Social Challenges
Prior to the revolution, France was dealing
with a traditional social structure based up the
3 estates.
The breakdown of society (which will be
explained) was a source of criticism from the
new emerging class of thinkers questioning
the existing social order.
Crown
The breakdown of
society was based
upon 3 classes, with
the King ruling
based on the
divine right.
First Estate
Second Estate
Third Estate
The Crown and the Ancien Regime
The King ruled in Absolute Power; which
meant that whatever he wished became law.
This rule was based upon the Divine Right of
Kings:
the right to rule was conferred by
God,
meaning the King was
associated with the
will of God and he
is supreme.
The
First
Estate
The first estate consisted of the
Clergy (the most powerful
Cardinals and bishops to the
poorest priests).
The top of the first estate were
the wealthier clergymen who
controlled most of the churches
wealth.
The Catholic Church controlled
1/10th of the land in France and
made most of its money via
taxation. (Called Tithes)
Members of the first estate also
occupied high ranking political
positions.
The Second Estate
Consisted of about 300,000 to 400,000 French
people who were regarded as Nobles.
Nobility of the Sword: people who became
nobles through their military service to the King.
Nobility of the Robe: people who became nobles
by working in the administrative service of the
King. Although not based on military involvement
this was the group who grew the most in the
second estate.
The privileges of the second estate.
Members of the second estate were exempt from
paying high taxes to the king.
Monopolized high office positions in gov't, military
and church.
Controlled provincial assemblies (parliaments).
Rural 2nd estate controlled most agricultural life,
and made money by charging taxes to the poor
3rd estate members who lived in the countryside.
They could even imprison members of the 3rd
Estate
The Third Estate
Made up 98% of France's total population
Included all jobs from rural peasants, to bankers,
lawyers and bureaucrats.
This estate faced the main tax burden: tithe, capitation
tax, property tax, vigntieme tax, banalites tax, as well as
tax on goods (like salt).
They also had compulsory military service.
Also included intellects and people who were becoming
increasingly upset with the social system .....
The Realities of the Social Structure by
1780s
The first estate was actually divided into Upper Clergy and
Lower Clergy.
The higher officers did not really participate in
church and
just used their position for financial
gain.
The lower officers enjoyed very
few privileges -- their
influence had been
diminished by growing secularization.
The lower clergy grew very uneasy with the abuses of
power by the upper clergy but could not do much about it.
The Second
Estate
Because boundaries
between Estates
were permeable;
one way into nobility was to buy your way in.
The wealthiest members of the 3rd estate
could purchase venal offices: administrative positions
within the french government.
You could also as the Crown to convert the office of an
aspiring noble to an official noble by sending money to the
crown.
Letters Patent: documents signed by the King that
conferred exclusive rights to those who distinguished
themselves in service to France.
These
people included engineers, writers, artists and scientists
Essentially, the traditions of the second estate were
The Third Estate
This estate consisted of multiple sub categories:
The bourgeoisie was the upper class in the 3rd Estate.
They became wealthy because of the rapidly expanding
commercial markets. Families purchased large
country estates
and lived luxurious lifestyles. (some
eventually purchased their
way to the 2nd estate).
On the other hand, most of the 3rd estate was made of of
poor peasants. (1/3rd of the entire country's population)
The issues the peasants faced coupled with the influence
of the Bourgeoisie would combine to create the muscle for
the French Revolution.
Political Challenges
King Louis XVI (16th)
Although Louis the XVI was the absolute ruler, he
depended on a system of courts to make sure his laws
were enforced across France. (the courts were called
Parlements)
When Lo. XVI began to lose legitimacy, these parlements
turned against his wishes and acted in the interests of the
people.
Essentially, they were in constant conflict with the Crown as
they felt that Lo. XVI was not suited to rule France. (It was
an attempt to take some of his power.
These Parlements would play a huge role in the financial
crisis prior to the Revolution.
Financial Crisis Activity.