2. The Privileged Estates
Top 2 estates
No taxes
Owned most land (church
nobles)
Third Estate
97% of population
3 groups: middle class,
workers, peasants
3. Enlightenment ideas
Manyin the third estate inspired by American
Revolution
Economy was suffering
Heavy taxes made profit difficult
Cost of living was increasing
Crop failures
Country was deep in debt
Large spending by royalty
Debt from previous kings
Weak leader
Very indecisive
