Question

figure 2:
source: graph, agate publishing, 2015
the three estates in prerevolutionary france
key:
first estate: clergy

• church leaders.

head of the catholic church acted as advisor to the king.
second estate: nobility

• those with hereditary titles granted by king.

held leadership positions in the government, church, army, and courts.

• mostly wealthy

third estate: commoners

• middle class with some property, wealth and education.
• skilled laborers/artisans.
• lower class: laborers and peasant farmers, mostly poor.

document analysis:

1. based on the data shown, what inequalities existed in france prior to the revolution?

handwritten text: they pay taxes of but their size 98% of the population but they only have 65% land ownership?

1. based on the data, which “estate” would be most likely to support a revolution? explain.
2. which “estate(s)” would be most likely to resist a revolution? explain.

Explanation:

1)

The Third Estate (Commoners, ~98% of population) had low land ownership (65%) and high tax burden (100%). First (0.5% pop, 10% land) and Second (1.5% pop, 25% land) Estates had low tax (0.5% and 1.5% tax) but more land relative to population. So inequalities in population, land, and tax.

Third Estate: 98% of people, 65% land, 100% tax. They had the least land, most tax, and largest population. Unfair burden, so they’d support revolution to change this.

First and Second Estates: First (0.5% pop, 10% land, 0.5% tax), Second (1.5% pop, 25% land, 1.5% tax). They had low tax, more land relative to population. Revolution would threaten their privileges, so they’d resist.

Answer:

Inequalities: The Third Estate (98% of population) had 65% land ownership and 100% tax burden. First (0.5% pop) had 10% land, 0.5% tax. Second (1.5% pop) had 25% land, 1.5% tax. So unequal distribution of population, land, and taxation.

2)