The Causes and Consequences of the Three Estates System
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This worksheet explores the causes and consequences of the Three Estates system in pre-revolutionary France, encouraging students to analyze historical sources and compare social classes.
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The Causes and Consequences of the Three Estates System
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Introduction to the Three Estates
Source A: Description of the Estates
'French society was divided into three distinct groups: the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (commoners). The clergy and nobility enjoyed numerous privileges, while the commoners bore most of the taxes and had little political power.'
Provenance: Summary from a history textbook, 1789.
Causes of Social Unrest
Source B: Economic Hardship of the Third Estate
'The common people suffered from high food prices, unemployment, and heavy taxation, which caused widespread discontent.'
Provenance: Report from a revolutionary pamphlet, 1789.
Analysis of the Impact
Source C: Consequences of the Estate System
'The inequality and unfair privileges of the estates fueled resentment, which contributed to the outbreak of the French Revolution.'
Provenance: Historian's analysis, 1800.
Consequences of the Estate System
Source D: The Fall of the Ancien Régime
'The deep-rooted inequality of the estate system was one of the main reasons for the collapse of the monarchy and the rise of revolutionary France.'
Provenance: Modern historical analysis, 20th century.
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- Created
- 1/1/2026
- Updated
- 1/1/2026
- Type
- worksheet