Essay on Third Estate

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Rachel Campbell

Mr.Darby

AP European History

31 January 2013

DBQ #7

In the late 18th century the Third Estate faced many grievances prior to the French Revolution which would bring many changes to society. Before the changes occurred the third estate was looked down on by others and that forced them to go through certain hardships. It did not matter that they made up the ninety seven percent of the population.If you were not part of the nobility or the clergy you were not a high concern. The people went through problems in all parts of life; political, social and cultural.

The Third Estate was not seen as a threat nor as a priority when it came to money and the law. “We can not hide, sire, that the nobility consumes the major part of the State income.” (Doc 3) This was one grievance listed by the Third Estate at the Estates General in 1789. The people are trying to get the nobility to see how much their taxes are crippling them. “A noble man, who knows how to dance well, ride a horse well, and handle a sword, thinks he deserves everything, and, nonetheless, he pretends that he does not owe anything to the State.” (Doc 3) The nobility were not paying their dues to society. The people were just trying to say that the system of taxes should be fair and equal. The Third Estate normally strived for equal rights it is stated in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights; social distinctions can be established only for the common benefit.” (Doc 4) In other words, everyone should have to pay, work, and owe the same amount. Living should be completely equal.

Social grievances were often dealt with by the women of the time. They were especially mistreated by the higher estates. In a petition to try and help these problems the women wrote in protest asking that men not be allowed to exercise trades that are the prerogative of women. (Doc 10) The women were trying to have exclusive rights to sell certain goods that only women would need. Women also participated in a march to Versailles in 1789 and in the Petition of Women wrote,“The women of the Third Estate are almost all born without fortune; their education is neglected or very defective.” (Doc 10) in hopes of having the other estates see
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