Changes

==Social structure of Old Regime==

==Social structure of Old Regime==

Before the Revolution, France had three levels in its social system: The First Estate (The Clergy), Second Estate(The Nobility) and Third Estate(Anyone else). The [[First Estate]] consisted of about 0.6%. It owned roughly 10% of the land, which it rented to peasants in return for a proportion of crops produced. On top of this it collected tithes, a tax on the income of parishioners, which was meant to contribute to the upkeep of the local clergy. [[Image:3estates.jpg|thumb|320px|left]] The First Estate were exempt from most taxes because of the Church's role in poor relief, health care and education, and instead  they paid a voluntary gift called the don gratuit to the monarchy. The Church paid this annually, and decided how much it would pay and varied depending on the power of the King or the mood of the Church, which was usually about 5% of its income. The [[Second Estate]] was about 2% of the population and they controlled 20% of the land.  These were the nobility, and they too paid very little taxes.  The [[Third Estate]] was everyone else, and they were badly overtaxed by the monarch.  This overtaxing was one of the major causes of the [[French]] Revolution.   

Before the Revolution, France had three levels in its social system: The First Estate (The Clergy), Second Estate (The Nobility) and Third Estate (Anyone else). The [[First Estate]] consisted of about 0.6%. It owned roughly 10% of the land, which it rented to peasants in return for a proportion of crops produced. On top of this it collected tithes, a tax on the income of parishioners, which was meant to contribute to the upkeep of the local clergy. [[Image:3estates.jpg|thumb|320px|left]] The First Estate were exempt from most taxes because of the Church's role in poor relief, health care and education, and instead  they paid a voluntary gift called the don gratuit to the monarchy. The Church paid this annually, and decided how much it would pay and varied depending on the power of the King or the mood of the Church, which was usually about 5% of its income. The [[Second Estate]] was about 2% of the population and they controlled 20% of the land.  These were the nobility, and they too paid very little taxes.  The [[Third Estate]] was everyone else, and they were badly overtaxed by the monarch.  This overtaxing was one of the major causes of the [[French]] Revolution.   

The leaders of the Third Estate were the upper middle class, especially lawyers; they are called the [[bourgeoisie]].  They were educated in the ideas of the [[Enlightenment]], most importantly [[Jean Jacques Rousseau]].  Rousseau's book, "The Social Contract" supported a [[direct democracy]].  The social contract spoke against titles for nobility and demanded complete equality for all people.

The leaders of the Third Estate were the upper middle class, especially lawyers; they are called the [[bourgeoisie]].  They were educated in the ideas of the [[Enlightenment]], most importantly [[Jean Jacques Rousseau]].  Rousseau's book, "The Social Contract" supported a [[direct democracy]].  The social contract spoke against titles for nobility and demanded complete equality for all people.