As the spokesperson for the third estate, I bring to your attention three important problems we want fixed in France.
We as the third estate are the only ones who have to pay taxes. At times the first estate will donate money, but we are the only ones who are obligated by law to pay taxes. On top of that, we have to pay extra taxes so that the nobility can live lavishly in their land while we starve. It has also come to our attention that while we work King Louis XIV has been selling nobility titles that exempt individuals from taxation, and they’re inheritable. If we continue like this, you will lose 97% of your population, and 100% of your tax payers.
In the Estate General each state is represented equally. The first estate with 1% of the
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We need a democracy, not an autocracy. Set us free, we are just as much people as you are. We bring to your attention the social problems of unjust taxing and slavery, the economic problems of where the taxes are going and the political unjustness of our government. End serfdom! We are little more than cattle to the 1st and 2nd estates, though we can be so much more.
“We as the third estate are the only ones who have to pay taxes.” – This problem came into effect due to social and economic factors. The evolution of their political system created a flawed economic plan that stemmed from their unusual social habits.
“We want more say in what happens in France.” – This came from political and geographical factors. France wanted to have a close-knit society, but to do so they cut off 97% of the population and attempted to ignore their existence. Geographical factors were the fact of where they lived or where they were born decided what they could do in their government.
“End serfdom!” – The slavery problem in France came from their odd social system and their history. By viewing the 3rd estate as unhuman, slavery came into effect. Though France was not alone in their slavery practices, history had a huge effect on why serfdom came
From the District of Mansigne is most likely a letter or pamphlet written by the Third Estate, also know as the lower or oppressed class, stating their wants and demands concerning taxation, the Estates-General and equality. A specific part in the text that supports the fact that the Third Estate wrote this pamphlet and is seen in point 10 of the document, “that the Third Estate always will have in these administrations a number of representatives chosen from its order, equal to that of the other two orders combine”(Pg. 20). Due to the fact that through out the document and specifically in point 10 the author or authors directly address the equality of the Third Estate supports the fact that this document would have most likely been
To verify that the First and Second estates have no purpose in the French society. The source states that the Third Estate has the largest amount of people, but the least amount of freedoms. It demands that there must be a change for the Third Estate. The source implies: “What is the Third Estate? Everything.” “What has it been until now in the political border? Nothing.” “What does it ask? To become something.” The source is strongly supportive to nationalism as it is a work of patriotism. It criticizes the monarchy for being an unequal monarchy. The source explains that the majority of people are from the Third Estate, yet it does not have the freedoms that other people do. But the Third Estate can fight
The first estate was the top 1% of population which is the government, church, and clergy men. They experienced special privileges and paid no taxes.
However, the third estate held the commoners and made up the bulk of French society. The commoners were responsible of the hard labor and farming of the land. The third estate was performing all of the work, paying the taxes, and maintaining society. This caused the third estate to feel unequal in society, and wanted a change. Economic
The 3rd estate was always
The citizens of the 3rd estate and some citizens in the 2nd estate in France during 1789, were not happy at all. They were getting heavily taxed by Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette, and the Catholic Church. When they didn’t have the money to pay the taxes that was forced upon them. After all of the hard work they put in to growing crops, the crops were taken
Question 2: If there is one art the French people perfected, it is the art of ennui. While this is diluted with every new generation, the French people still seem to be perpetually uninspired by their political system. Today, this ennui results in little more than complaining, but historically, it has led to unrest. The paramount result of this is the French Revolution. Before the Revolution, French society had been highly divided by class lines and the Third Estate struggled while the First and Second Estates enjoyed prosperity. After the French Revolution, however, the French did everything they could to distance themselves from this system.
The Third Estate, treated unfairly in society, became angered and wanted simple equalities that the other Estates had. In
The third estate had to pay the highest rate of taxes, while the first and second estates had to pay little or no taxes (document 2). The first estate enjoyed enormous wealth and privilege, owned about ten percent of the land, collected tithes, and paid no taxes. The second estate owned land, but had little money income. The third estate resented privileges of the first two estates and were burdened by taxes.
"...In monarchial countries, the estates and the greatest portion of the wealth are left to the first
The other causes were social and political. The social cause was wealth. The third estate didn’t have as much money as the nobles and clergy so they couldn't afford as much food, and on top of that, they had to pay the chief tax (taille) while the other estates did not. The political factor was the fact
These goals are quite simple the third estate wants its representatives to actually be from the third estate, to have the same number of privileges the other estates have , and for the votes to be done by population size. These goals are not extreme and are very feasible.
The French Revolution was a period of time from 1789 to 1799 in France where there was political instability. It officially began on the 14th of July, 1789, when the Bastille, which was a symbol of the King’s harsh policies, was stormed. The King, Louis XVI, the Queen, Marie-Antoinette and about 40,000 people were all brutally murdered. But there was also a positive side, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was formally adopted on August 1789 and feudalism was abolished. This essay will address the issues of the three estates system, food shortages and the fiscal crisis. It will also be argued that the most significant cause of the French Revolution was the social inequality that stemmed from the three estates system.
The French Revolution (1789-1814) was a period that affected the outcome of world history tremendously. This is considered a major turning point in European history which has led to dramatic changes in France and other regions of the world. Various social and political issues led to the start of the revolution. Politically, France suffered under the rule of Louis XVI, who ruled by absolute monarchy. Many people had their natural rights renounced and weren’t able to have a political voice. Socially, France had divided its population within 3 estates (classes). French citizens took it upon themselves to remodel their country 's’ political structure. The French Revolution had encountered both positive and negative effects. However, many Europeans viewed the Revolution as much more than just a bloody massacre. The French Revolution was used to demonstrate new ideology that would emphasize the principles of liberty and equality throughout Europe.
The second estate was mainly composed of nobility. They too were exempt from paying taxes. This left the tax burden upon the third estate. The third estate consisted of some merchants and entrepreneurs; however, the majority were peasants. Corruption of the estates was causing much frustration among the common people who composed 70 percent of the population.