Question

How was the system of estates in French society organised?

Answer 1

French society in the eighteen century was divided into three estates, only the members of third estate paid taxes. About 60 per cent of the land was owned by nobles, the Church and other richer members of the third estate. The members of the first two estate, that is, the clergy and the nobility, enjoyed certain privileges by birth. The most important of these was exemption from paying taxes to the sate. The nobles further enjoyed privileges. These included feudal dues, which they extracted from the peasants.