Major Social Groups in France

Thesis: On the eve of the 1789 Revolution in France, there were multiple social groups all seeking reforms for their betterment in this revolution, but while some reached their aspirations, others did not.

1. First Estate- Clergy

-had large role in France, but not any larger than Britain

-1789- about 100,000 Catholic clergy in France

-collectively owned between 5% and 10% of land

-initially joined with rebelling parties

-later did not reach aspirations- forced to swear loyalty to new constitution, renounce papacy

-refractory priests went against revolutionary government

-hundreds slaughtered in September massacres

2. Second Estate- Nobility

-1789- about 400,000 including women and children

-enjoyed big resurgence since 1715, death of Louis XIV

-exempt from most taxes

-also hurt by Revolution- bourgeois began to mock rather than lionize them, eventually resulting in their removal from power

3. Third Estate- Commoners

-vast majority of French population

-led by bourgeois, who mingled with nobility

-had been hurt greatly economically

-between 1730's-1780's prices rose 65% but wages only rose 22%

-third estate benefited most from revolution

-enjoyed popular sovereignty, had much larger role in government

-agrarian sector finally emerged completely from old feudal tradition

-no longer had to pay dues to nobility