Ancien Regime -

Making up 98% of the population, this group included wealthy bourgeois merchants, urban workers, and rural peasants. Despite their numbers and economic contribution, they bore the brunt of the nation's taxation and had virtually no political voice. Political Absolute Monarchy

The Ancien Régime was a system built on tradition and stability that failed to adapt to the changing economic and intellectual realities of the 18th century. When Louis XVI called the Estates-General in 1789 to address the fiscal crisis, he inadvertently provided the Third Estate with a platform to demand systemic change. The resulting Revolution did more than just overthrow a king; it dismantled a centuries-old social order, replacing "subjects" with "citizens." ancien regime

Society was strictly divided into three "estates," a system that determined an individual's rights, taxes, and legal status: Making up 98% of the population, this group

Comprising the Catholic Church, they owned roughly 10% of French land and were exempt from most taxes. They provided social services like education and healthcare but were often criticized for the vast wealth held by higher-ranking bishops. When Louis XVI called the Estates-General in 1789

The Ancien Régime (Old Regime) refers to the social and political system of the Kingdom of France from the Late Middle Ages until the French Revolution of 1789. It was characterized by a rigid hierarchical structure, an absolute monarchy, and a complex web of feudal privileges that ultimately became unsustainable under the weight of economic crisis and Enlightenment ideals. The Social Hierarchy: The Three Estates

Massive debt from wars (including support for the American Revolution) and a series of poor harvests led to widespread famine and skyrocketing bread prices.

Intellectuals like Voltaire and Rousseau began questioning the legitimacy of absolute power and the inequality of the estate system, advocating for reason, liberty, and meritocracy.