Why did inequality exist in France?

Answer 1

Socio-economic causes:

• The French society was organized into the system of estates.

• Peasants made up about 90% of the population. Only a small number of them owned the land they cultivated. Had to pay tithes to the church and taille to the state.

• Nobles, the Church and other richer members of the third estate owned about 60% of the land.

• The members of the first two estates, that is, the clergy and the nobility, enjoyed certain privileges by birth, like tax exemption and feudal dues from the peasants.

• In 1774 upon accession the new king found an empty treasury.

• Cost of maintaining an extravagant court at the immense palace of Versailles.American war of independence and increase in debt from 1 billion livres to 2 billion livres.

• Cost of maintaining an army, the court, running government offices or universities, the state was forced to increase taxes on the members of the third estate.

Answer 2

the three classes that the country was divided into