Three Estates
France’s society was divided into three social groups called these.
What is the Estates?
This group owned lots of land and held powerful positions in the army and government.
Who are the nobles?
This was the main food for most families.
What is bread?
A system where the king holds nearly all political power is called this.
What is an absolute monarchy?
In 1774, this man became king of France.
Who is Louis XVI?
The First Estate was made up of these people.
What is the clergy (Catholic Church officials)?
The Church collected money from peasants called a “tithe,” which was basically this.
What is a required payment to the Church (a church tax)?
When bread prices rose, people often experienced this.
What is hunger?
The belief that the king’s authority came directly from God is called this.
What is divine right?
France spent huge amounts on wars, including helping these people during the American Revolution.
Who are the American colonists?
The Second Estate was made up of these people.
What is the nobility?
The clergy and nobles were mostly exempt from paying these.
What are taxes?
Peasants paid three major burdens: taxes to the government, rent to nobles, and this to the Church.
What are tithes?
Under absolute monarchy, ordinary people had little or no voice because there were no ______.
What are elections?
he money France owed because of war spending was called the national ______.
What is debt?
This Estate included about 97% of the population.
What is the Third Estate?
Nobles collected rent and fees from peasants who worked this.
What is their land?
The educated middle class (lawyers, doctors, merchants) were called this group.
What is the bourgeoisie?
Name two powers the king had
he made laws, controlled courts, decided taxes, commanded the army.
The queen became a symbol of luxury while people suffered; she was this person.
Who is Marie Antoinette?
A person’s Estate was mostly decided by this, and most people could not change it.
What is birth?
The nobles had special legal privileges, including these for crimes.
What are lighter punishments?
Even though the bourgeoisie paid taxes and helped the economy, they lacked this in government.
What is political power/representation?
Questioning the king’s decisions could be seen as questioning this.
What is God’s will?
The contrast that made people furious was: royal luxury at this palace while citizens faced bread shortages.
What is the Palace of Versailles?