Question

Explain the socio economic conditions of 18th century Europe and the rise of the middle class.

Answer 1

Explanation:
This answer for this question can be broken down into two parts.

1. First, talk about the three estate divisions and unfair treatment towards the third estate. (3 mark)
2. Second, talk about the emergence and strength of the newly emerged social class-middle class. (2 mark)

Answer:
During the 18th century the French society was divided into three estates. The first estate was the clergy. The second estate was the nobility and the third estate included the remaining sections of society such as merchants, lawyers, peasants, labourers and servants. Although peasants formed 90 percent of the total population of France, only few of them owned lands. About 60 per cent of the land was owned by the Church and other richer members. The members of the first two estates did not have to pay taxes to the state. Peasants also had to pay to their feudal lords. They were forced to work in their houses and fields and to serve in the army. The Church extracted taxes called ‘tithes’ from the peasants. Apart from this, they paid a direct tax, called ‘taille’ to the state and a number of indirect taxes on articles of everyday consumption like salt or tobacco. Only the Third Estate paid taxes to finance the activities of the state.

During the 18th century, a new social group called the middle class emerged from the third estate. They earned wealth through overseas trade and manufacturing of goods such as woollen and silk textiles. Middle class included well educated professions such as lawyers and administrative officials. They were inspired by the words of philosophers like John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau.They believed in freedom, equal laws and opportunities for all. Montesquieu, a philosopher in his book, The Spirit of the Laws, proposed that power should be divided between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.