FRENCH SOCIETY DURING THE LATE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

1. IN 1774

1.1. ESTATES IN FRENCH SOCIETY

1.1.1. 1ST ESTATE CLERGY

1.1.2. 2ND ESTATE NOBILITY

1.1.3. 3RD ESTATE PEASANTS

1.1.3.1. Paid taxes

1.1.3.1.1. TITHES - Tax levied by church

1.1.3.1.2. TAILLE - Paid to state

1.1.3.1.3. INDIRECT TAXES

1.2. LOUIS XVI WAS KING OF FRANCE

1.2.1. Financial resources drained

1.2.2. TAXES increased

2. Struggle to survive

2.1. Increase in demand for foodgrains

2.2. Rise in price of bread

2.3. Gap in rich and poor Widened

2.4. Lead to SUBSISTENCE CRISIS

3. ROLE OF MIDDLE CLASS

3.1. 3RD ESTATE (SOCIAL GROUPS)

3.1.1. Merchants, manufacturers, lawyers or administrative officials

3.1.1.1. Social position depend On merit

3.1.2. Philosophers like John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau

3.1.2.1. Ideas of freedom and equal laws