French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century

Structure of French Society (Old Regime)

1. French society was organised under the Old Regime, based on feudal traditions.
2. Society was divided into three estates:
   • First Estate – Clergy
   • Second Estate – Nobility
   • Third Estate – Common people
3. This division created institutional inequality (legal, social, economic).

First and Second Estates (Privileged Classes)

4. Clergy and nobility enjoyed privileges by birth.
5. They were exempt from paying state taxes.
6. Nobles had feudal privileges, including extracting dues from peasants.
7. Peasants had to provide forced labour (services) to nobles.
8. The Church collected tithes (1/10 of produce) from peasants.

Third Estate (Unprivileged Majority)

9. The Third Estate included:
   • Big businessmen, merchants
   • Lawyers, officials
   • Peasants, artisans, labourers
10. It was internally diverse (rich + poor) but lacked privileges.
11. The Third Estate alone paid all taxes to the state.

Taxation System

12. Direct tax: Taille (paid to the state).
13. Indirect taxes on goods like salt and tobacco.
14. Additional burden: Tithes to Church + feudal dues to nobles.
15. Result: Unequal tax burden → economic exploitation.

Land and Population

16. Peasants formed about 90% of the population.
17. Only a small number owned land they cultivated.
18. About 60% of land owned by nobles, Church, and rich elites.

Population Growth and Food Crisis

19. Population rose from 23 million (1715) to 28 million (1789).
20. This increased demand for food grains.
21. Grain production failed to match demand.
22. Price of bread (staple food) increased sharply.

Wages and Inequality

23. Workers were employed as labourers with fixed wages.
24. Wages did not increase with rising prices.
25. Gap between rich and poor widened significantly.

Subsistence Crisis

26. Natural calamities (drought, hail) reduced harvests.
27. This caused subsistence crises (threat to basic survival).
28. Effects:
    1. Food shortage
    2. Rising prices
    3. Hunger and malnutrition
    4. Disease and deaths
    5. Social unrest

Financial Crisis of the State

29. In 1774, Louis XVI became king with an empty treasury.
30. Long wars had drained financial resources.
31. Extravagant spending at Versailles palace increased expenses.
32. France supported the American War of Independence, increasing debt.
33. National debt rose to over 3 billion livres.
34. Lenders charged ~10% interest on loans.
35. A large portion of the budget went to interest payments.

Government Response and Impact

36. The state tried to increase taxes to meet expenses.
37. Due to privilege system, tax burden fell on Third Estate only.
38. This created deep resentment and anger.

Core Analytical Understanding

39. French society had triple inequality:
    1. Social (privileges by birth)
    2. Economic (unequal taxation, poverty)
    3. Political (no power for Third Estate)
    4. The system was exploitative and unsustainable.

40. Combined effects of:
    1. Inequality
    2. Financial crisis
    3. Food shortages

This created conditions for revolution.

Must Remember

• Old Regime – Pre-1789 system.
• Tithe – 1/10 tax to Church.
• Taille – Direct tax to state.
• Livre – French currency (abolished later)
• Subsistence crisis – Threat to basic livelihood.