USA HISTORY

MAKING OF A NEW NATION 1776 1800

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Which Estate had to carry the burden of paying the taxes in France?
A
1st Estate
B
2nd Estate
C
3rd Estate
D
4th Estate
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -1788. The tax system in pre-revolutionary France largely exempted the nobles and the clergy from taxes. The tax burden therefore devolved to the peasants, wage-earners, and the professional and business classes, also known as the Third Estate.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Three Estates The First and Second Estates were exempted from most taxes. The Third Estate retained the burden of producing the wealth for the two privileged Estates and also the responsibility of paying nearly all of the taxes.

Detailed explanation-3: -Every year they had to pay a tithe (a religious tax, usually 10% of their income) to the First Estate. The Third Estate also had to often pay the Second Estate to use land owned by the Second Estate for farming.

Detailed explanation-4: -Kingdom of France. France under the Ancien Régime (before the French Revolution) divided society into three estates: the First Estate (clergy); the Second Estate (nobility); and the Third Estate (commoners). The king was considered part of no estate.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Third Estate was made up of everyone else, from peasant farmers to the bourgeoisie – the wealthy business class. While the Second Estate was only 1% of the total population of France, the Third Estate was 96%, and had none of the rights and priviliges of the other two estates.

There is 1 question to complete.