R10a-French Revolution Late 18th century (1770-1789)
French Society Divided
In the late 18th century, France, like the rest of Europe, still clung to an outdated social system
that had emerged in the Middle Ages. Under this ancien régime, or old order, everyone in
France was divided into one of three social classes, or estates. The First Estate was made up of
the clergy; the Second Estate was made up of the nobility; and the Third Estate comprised the
vast majority of the population.
The Clergy Enjoy Wealth During the Middle Ages, the Church had exerted great influence
throughout Christian Europe. In 1789, the French clergy still enjoyed enormous wealth and
privilege. The Church owned about 10 percent of the land, collected tithes, and paid no direct
taxes to the state. High Church leaders such as bishops and abbots were usually nobles who lived
very well. Parish priests, however, often came from humble origins and might be as poor as their
peasant congregations.
The First Estate did provide some social services. Nuns, monks, and priests ran schools,
hospitals, and orphanages. But during the Enlightenment, philosophes targeted the Church for
reform. They criticized the idleness of some clergy, the Church’s interference in politics, and its
intolerance of dissent. In response, many clergy condemned the Enlightenment for undermining
religion and moral order.
Nobles Hold Top Government Jobs The Second Estate was the titled nobility of French
society. In the Middle Ages, noble knights had defended the land. In the 1600s, Richelieu and
Louis XIV had crushed the nobles’ military power but had given them other rights—under strict
royal control. Those rights included top jobs in government, the army, the courts, and the
Church.
At Versailles, ambitious nobles competed for royal appointments while idle courtiers enjoyed
endless entertainments. Many nobles, however, lived far from the center of power. Though they
French Society Divided
In the late 18th century, France, like the rest of Europe, still clung to an outdated social system
that had emerged in the Middle Ages. Under this ancien régime, or old order, everyone in
France was divided into one of three social classes, or estates. The First Estate was made up of
the clergy; the Second Estate was made up of the nobility; and the Third Estate comprised the
vast majority of the population.
The Clergy Enjoy Wealth During the Middle Ages, the Church had exerted great influence
throughout Christian Europe. In 1789, the French clergy still enjoyed enormous wealth and
privilege. The Church owned about 10 percent of the land, collected tithes, and paid no direct
taxes to the state. High Church leaders such as bishops and abbots were usually nobles who lived
very well. Parish priests, however, often came from humble origins and might be as poor as their
peasant congregations.
The First Estate did provide some social services. Nuns, monks, and priests ran schools,
hospitals, and orphanages. But during the Enlightenment, philosophes targeted the Church for
reform. They criticized the idleness of some clergy, the Church’s interference in politics, and its
intolerance of dissent. In response, many clergy condemned the Enlightenment for undermining
religion and moral order.
Nobles Hold Top Government Jobs The Second Estate was the titled nobility of French
society. In the Middle Ages, noble knights had defended the land. In the 1600s, Richelieu and
Louis XIV had crushed the nobles’ military power but had given them other rights—under strict
royal control. Those rights included top jobs in government, the army, the courts, and the
Church.
At Versailles, ambitious nobles competed for royal appointments while idle courtiers enjoyed
endless entertainments. Many nobles, however, lived far from the center of power. Though they
