The Three Estates. A contemporary cartoon, showing the Third Estate welcoming the nobles and the clergy to the ranks of the National Assembly, June 30, 1789. Click here to enlarge this image.
The Three Estates of the Old Regime in France were the social classes that divided society before the French Revolution. The First Estate consisted of the clergy, who enjoyed wealth, land, and were largely exempt from taxes. The Second Estate included the nobility, who held privileges, owned large estates, and also paid few taxes. The Third Estate made up about 97% of the population and included peasants, urban workers, and the bourgeoisie (middle class). They carried the burden of taxation and had little political power. This unequal structure created deep resentment, especially within the Third Estate, and was a key cause of the Revolution.
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