Question

Why does third estate people means common people suppose to give tax in french revolution why not second & first estate ?

Answer 1

It can be understood as:

1. Clergy and nobility formed the first estate and the second estate respectively. The privileges enjoyed by both were by virtue of birth.
2. The most significant one was exemption from paying taxes to the state.
3. Both the clergy and the nobility owned feudal rights while the peasants bore the burden of France’s wars and heavy taxes.
4. The peasants also had to pay tithes to the Church and eventually, all members of the third estate had to pay taxes to the state.
5. This also included a direct tax, called taille, and several indirect taxes which were charged even on things like salt or tobacco.
6. Thus the taxes were paid by the third estate alone.