The First, Second, and Third Estates

Imagine that you are a middle class lawyer in 178o. You're fairly well off, and belong to a group in France known as the "Third Estate". This Estate makes up about 95% of France's population, about 25 million people, and has almost no say in government issues.

The social and political system in France prior to the year 1789, was called the Old Regime. This system was based upon three Estates that divided the people of France.

Maybe you need a little more background knowledge on the Estates and France to know what's going on here.

The First Estate is the Church and clergy. This Estate was half and half with half of the members poor and the other half rich.

The Second Estate is the nobility. Their ranks were inherited by family name. The Second and First Estates are exempted from taxation.

The Third Estate is made up of servants, skilled and unskilled workers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, storekeepers, serfs, and laborers. They pay all the taxes and get no privileges.