On The Eve Of Revolution

 

Social unrest, government debt, and food shortages contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution of 1789.

 

Since the Middle Ages, everyone in France had belonged to one of three social classes called estates. The clergy and the nobles belonged to the First and Second Estates. These two groups were rich and powerful. They had many special priviliges. For example, they did not have to pay taxes. Most French people belonged to the Third Estate. Nine out of ten people in the Third Estate were peasants. Their tax burden was huge.

 

In 1789. France faced several crises. For many years. the government had spent more money than it earned. In addition, bad harvests caused food prices to rise. Many peasants did not have enough to eat. In towns and in the countryside, starving people rioted.

 

To deal with these problems, King Louis XVI met with the leaders of the three estates. Most common people wanted financial relief, but the elected members of the Third Estate wanted government reform. After weeks of meetings, its leaders took a daring step. They created a new government called the National Assembly. Some reform minded nobles and clergy joined them. The National Assembly promised to write a new constitution for France. However, dangerous rumors, increasing food shortages, and an attack on the Bastille (A Parisian political prison) kept the problems from being solved. A violent revolution was starting.

 

POPULATION AND LAND OWNERSHIP IN FRANCE, 1789

 

PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION BY ESTATE

 

FIRST ESTATE (Clergy)- Made 0.5% of the population.

 

SECOND ESTAE (Nobles)- Made 1.5% of the population.

 

THRID ESTATE (peasants)- Made 98% ofthe population.

 

PERCENTAGE OF LAND OWNERSHIP, BY ESTATE

 

FIRST ESTATE- 10% of the land.

 

SECOND ESTATE- 20% of the land.

 

THIRD ESTATE- 70% of the land.

 

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