THE ESTATE SYSTEM IN FRANCE

We are setting the scene for the French Revolution. It is the 1780s in
France.
French society in the 1780s was divided into different social classes called
estates.

Read the 5th page of the book pdf file shared. The page is titled “The Three Estates”.

Now watch the following short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqEgz-xq_2Q

Use information from both sources to answer the questions below:

SECTION A: FILL IN THE BLANKS

Words to choose from:

lawyers estates nobles
privileges nuns clergy everyone
else

In the 1780s French society was divided into three different

_______________.

The First estate was made up of the ________________. These included

monks, bishops, __________ and priests.

The Second estate was made up of the landowners called

______________ and they had many _________________.

The Third estate was made of ____________________. They included

doctors, ______________, merchants etc.
 SECTION B: True or False

Write down True or False next to each statement. If a statement is false

then write the correct statement.

1. The First Estate had to pay taxes.

2. The Second Estate had to pay taxes.
3. The Third Estate had to pay taxes.

SECTION C: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Answer the following questions using full sentences.

1. Which estate system do you think had the least privileges? Give
reasons for your answers.

2. Could a person move from one estate to another? Quote from the
book to indicate how you know this.
3. On the pdf notes it says that King Louis XVI was an absolute
monarch. What does this mean?

4. Do you think that the estate system in 18th century France was fair?
Give reasons for your answers.