France+Before+the+Revolution+1+weiweil2013+08.26.10

Do you know why this is awesome? Because I spent an hour on it, and spent half an hour uploading it. THIS WIKISPACE TROUBLE IS NOT FUN.
 * The Three Estates**


 * The Three Estates**
 * four social classes: peasantry, working class, middle class (bourgeoisie), nobility
 * actual "estates": clergy, nobility, everyone else
 * clergy
 * 130 000 people
 * the church
 * own law courts, exempt from certain taxes
 * nobility
 * 120 000 to 350 000 people
 * royalty, military nobles, the "lords and ladies"
 * sword rights, special law treatment, exempt from certain taxes/military service
 * everyone else
 * 27 million people
 * basically everyone else (other professions, peasants, merchants)
 * no special rights
 * important in French society in middle ages, declined in 1789, thought unfair
 * Poverty**
 * estates unequal in numbers/privileges, but greatest inequality in wealth
 * most were poor; minority (nobility, bourgeoisie, etc) were rich
 * poor living conditions
 * reliant on charity
 * £435 a year (bare minimum)
 * Unequal taxation**
 * everyone had to pay taxes
 * direct taxes: directly to government
 * indirect taxes: paid during trade
 * 10% to 15% of yearly income to taxes
 * some exempt from some taxes
 * land/income, 20th income tax, labour repair tax: nobility and clergymen exempt
 * some provinces exempt from certain taxes (eg salt)
 * nobility/clergymen rarely pay taxes, but pay equal amount to everyone else (no problem for them)
 * peasants paid money to landlords (nobles) as dues and renting fees
 * rights: various dues paid for use of landlords' equipment/land
 * dues: unpaid work per year, tax, portion of crops
 * everyone paid the Church "tithe" (one tenth)


 * Philosophes**
 * writers, journalists, scientists who questioned social system
 * eg: Lavoisier, scientist, involved in political/social issue
 * proposed reforms in 1787, abolishing some taxes, introducing pensions, building new hospitals
 * eg: Voltaire, writer, questioned power of Church
 * the Calas affair: C's son killed himself, Catholics believed C killed his son to stop him converting, C was executed
 * Voltaire believed C's innocence
 * showed the religious intolerance, and cruelty of the law
 * public opinion started to change because of philosophes' writings
 * more humane, torture-free system of law
 * toleration of non-Catholics (Protestants, Jews)
 * wanted a say in how the country was run

French society in the middle ages was divided into three "estates": the clergy (people of the church), the nobility (people of royalty), and everyone else. The estates were unequal in population, wealth, and amount of power and special privileges they were allowed. The third estate was the poorest, yet they had to pay the most taxes; the first and second estate were often exempt. Eventually, the "Philosophes", or scholars, questioned the social system, and because of their writings public opinion of the estates began to change.
 * Summary**

Why didn't they realise earlier that the system was unfair? Why is it that the nobility (which include the king and queen) has LESS power than the church?
 * Questions**