1 Abuses of the Old Regime “The roots of the Freach Revolution lay in the aristocratic structure of French society, The Third Estate came to resent the special privileges of the asistoc- icy, 4 legacy of the Middle Ages, and the inefficient and corrupe methods of government. To many French people influenced by the ideas of the philosophes, French society seemed an affront to reason. By 1789, reformers sought 2 new social order based on rationality and equaliey GRIEVANCES OF THE THIRD ESTATE ‘Ac the same time that elections were held for the Estates General, the three es- tates drafted cabiers de doléances, the lists of grievances that deputies would take with them when the Escates General convened. The exhiers from all three ‘estates expressed loyalty to the monarchy and the church and called for a writ ten constitution and an elected assembly. The cabiers of the clergy and the no- bility insisted on the preservation of tradicional rights and privileges. The Cahier of the Third Estate of Dourdan, in the généralité of Orléans (one of the thieey-four admis ‘trative units into which prerevolutionary France was di- ‘vided), expressed the reformist hopes of the Thicd Estate. Some of the griev- ances in the cabier follow. 29 March, 1789 ‘The order of the third estate of the City, Bail- Hage [judicial district}, and County of Dour- daa, imbued with gratitude prompted by the paternal kindness of che King, who deigas co restore its former rights and its former consti- tation, forgets at this moment ics misforcunes and impotence, to hatken only co its foremost senciment and its foremost duty, that of saci ficing everything to the glory of the Patric {aation) and the service of His Majesty. It ‘supplicates hin to accep the grievances, com- plants, and remonsteancss which i is permice fed co bring to the foot.of the throne, and to see therein only the expression ofits zeal and the homage ofits obedience. Tewishes1. ‘Thar his subjects of the third estate, ‘equal by such status to all othet citizens, pre- sent themselves before the commoa father withoue other distinction which might de- ‘etade chem, 2. ‘Thac all the orders {the three estates), al- ready united by duty and a common desite to coneribute equally to the needs of the State, also deliberate in common concerning its needs. 3. ‘Thar no citizen lose is liberey except ac- cording t0 law; thar; consequently, no one be frzested by virtue of special orders, of, if im- ‘perative circumstances necessitate such orders, that the prisoner be handed over to the regular ‘courts of justice within forry-eigh hours ar the latest. 4, ‘That no eters or weitings intercepred in che post {mails} be ebe cause of the detention of any citizen, or be produced in court against him, except in case of conspiracy or undestak- ing egainst the State. 5. Thae the property of all citizens be inviolable, and that 20 one be required wo ‘make sacrifice thereof for the public welfe, except upon assurance of indemnification based upon the statement of fieely selected appraises. 15. That every personal tax be abolished; that thus the capitation and the taille and is accessories be merged with the vingtmelt ina ‘ax on land and real or nominal property. 16. That such tex be borne equally, without iscinction, by all classes of citizens and by all kinds of property, even feudal and contingent rights. V7. That thé tax substicated for the corvie {eaxes paid in labor, often road building] be borne by all classes of citizens equally and without distinction. That said tax, st present beyond the capacity of those who pay it and the needs to which itis destined, be reduced by at least one-half... "A tile ws ae evied on che alo of peace’ aed of wealth, A capitation wast head or poll tx pid for ec ppesoa, A sagas was 8 Gr om income and was pid hilly by pesacs JUSTICE 1. That the administration of justice be re- formed, either by restoring strice exécution of ordinances, oc by reforming the sections thereof that are contrary to the dispatch end welfare of justice 7. That venality fsale) of offices be sup- pressed. 8, ‘That the excessive number of offices in the necessary courts be recueed ia just meas- ‘ure, and that no one be given an office of mag iseracy if he is not atleast twenty-five yeass of age, and uncil after a substantial public exami- nation has verified his moralicy, integrity, and ability 10. ‘That the seudy of law be reformed; that it be directed in a manner analogous to our legislation, and that candidates for degeces be subjected to rigorous tests which may ot bbe evaded; char no dispensation of age or time be granted, 11. ‘That a body of general customery law be drafted of all articles common to all the ens~ toms of the several provinces and bailligges...- 12. That deliberations of courts ... which tend to prevent entry ofthe tht bbe rescinded and annulled as citizens of that order, in contempt of the au- thosity of che King, whose choice they limit, and contrary to the welfare of justice, the ad: ministration of which would become the pat mony of those of soble birth instead of being ceatrusted to merit, enlightenment, and virtue. 13, ‘That military ordinances which restrict ‘enteance to the service to those possessing; no bility be reformed. ‘Thac aaval ordinances establishing a degrad- ing distinction between officers born into the corde of nability end those born into that of tbe third estate be revoked, a5 thoroughly inju- rious to an order of citizens and destructive of ‘the competition so necessary to the glory and prosperity of the Stare,FINANCES ' 1, Thac if the Bstates General considers it ‘necessary to preserve the fees of wider [tax on commodities], such fers be made uniform ‘throughout the entire kingdom and reduced to a single denomination. ... 2, That che tax ofthe gabele (exon salt} be liminated if possible, or that it be cegulaced among the several provinces ofthe kingdom. ... 3. That the taxes on hides, which have to- tally destroyed thar branch of commerce and caused it to go abroad, be suppressed forever. 4. That «all useless offices, either in po- lice ot in the administration of justice, be abol- ished and suppressed, AGRICULTURE, 4, That the tight to hunt may never affece the property of the citizen; thar, accordingly, “husmay at all times Yravel qver bis lands, have injusious hecbs uprooted, and cae laerner {allalts), seinfoias (fodder), and ocher pro- duce whenever ie suits him; and that stubble may be freely raked immediately after the harvest... 11, «That individuals as well as commmu- nities be permitted co free cheiseltes from the sights of banalté [peasanes were required to use the lord's mill, wineptess, and oven), ad corn, by payenencs in moaey of in kind, at rae like ‘wise established by His Majesty on the basis of ‘the deliberations of che Eseates General. 15. That che militia, which devaseaces the country, cakes workers away from iusbandky, produces premature and ill-matched anacriages, ‘and imposes secret and asbierary taxes upon those who ate subject therero, be suppressed and replaced by voluncary ealistmeat at the ex- pense ofthe provinces.