Sarah Estime
Global Studies
Professor Ramlal

The French Revolution took place to better politics and social order. France’s population of twenty-seven million was divided into three estates. These three were distinct and treated differently because of their occupation, level of education, and wealth.

Clergy made up about one hundred thirty thousand and owned ten percent of the land. The higher clergy were regarded by the noble while the parish priests were poorer. Nonetheless, they were all exempt from taxation.

The nobility made up three hundred fifty thousand and owned close to thirty percent of the land. They held power over the government, military, law courts and church and sought more power over the military, church, and government. They were the most privileged and were also exempt from the taille, or taxation.

Commoners made up the rest. They consisted of peasants, wage earners, and the middle class. They owned up to forty percent of the land, which varied each time they moved. They were subject to taxation. The middle class, referred to as the bourgeoisie, were most opportune. They were the closest to nobility and so most threatening to the privileges the noble were trying to obtain.