FRENCH REVOLUTION
FRANCE UNDER NAPOLEON
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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Church leaders
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Nobility
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Peasants
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none of the above
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Detailed explanation-1: -The Second Estate consisted of the nobility of France, including members of the royal family, except for the King. Members of the Second Estate did not have to pay any taxes. They were also awarded special priviliges, such as the wearing a sword and hunting.
Detailed explanation-2: -The French nobility (French: la noblesse française) was a privileged social class in France from the Middle Ages until its abolition on 23 June 1790 during the French Revolution.
Detailed explanation-3: -The idea of the “estates” is important to the social structure of the Middle Ages. Feudal society was traditionally divided into three “estates” (roughly equivalent to social classes). The “First Estate” was the Church (clergy = those who prayed). The “Second Estate” was the Nobility (those who fought = knights).
Detailed explanation-4: -Summary of the Three Estates The First Estate consisted of members of the Catholic Church (the clergy). The Second Estate consisted of members of the aristocracy (the nobility). The Third Estate comprised all other members of french society (the commoners).
Detailed explanation-5: -It is generally accepted that the nobility comprised about 1 – 1.5% of the French population in pre-revolutionary France. Upper estimates place the figure at about 400, 000 people.