These are selected revision notes and practice questions. No original exam-year or paper references have been verified; these questions are not presented as authenticated past papers. Use your current textbook and teacher guidance for complete coverage.
| Estate | Composition | Privileges & Taxation |
|---|---|---|
| First Estate | Clergy (Church Officials) | Exempt from all taxes. Collected Tithes (1/10th of agricultural produce). |
| Second Estate | Nobility (Feudal Lords) | Exempt from taxes. Enjoyed feudal dues and extraction of labor. |
| Third Estate | Peasants, Artisans, Merchants, Lawyers | Paid ALL taxes including Taille (direct tax) and indirect taxes on salt & tobacco. |
Answer Points:
1. Empty Treasury: Long years of war & upkeep of Versailles palace depleted funds under King Louis XVI.
2. Subsistence Crisis: Rapid population growth, drought/hail led to soaring bread prices.
3. Social Inequality: Burden of taxation rested solely on the Third Estate.
4. Role of Philosophers: Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu inspired ideas of liberty, equality, and democratic representation.