How was society structured under France's ancien régime?

Answer 1

Under France's ancien régime, society was structured into three distinct estates: the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (common people). The First and Second Estates held significant privileges, including tax exemptions and considerable influence over political and social matters, while the Third Estate, which comprised the vast majority of the population, faced heavy taxation and had little political power. This hierarchical structure contributed to social tensions and discontent, ultimately leading to the French Revolution.