The Inequalities of Living Conditions Before the French Revolution Before the French Revolution, normal people’s life quality was so bad that they could barely survive. They had low income and had to spend most of it paying taxes and purchasing bread in order to stay alive. In 1787, even the bread was too expensive for them to afford which meant probable starvation. A traveller, Arthur Young, noted that, “The price of bread had risen above people’s ability to afford. This caused great misery” (Document 1, Young). The situation became more and more serious: normal people could not buy enough bread even by spending all of their money. If a person needs to spend more than half of his money to buy food in order to survive, then his life quality
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They lived wealthy and luxurious lives and did not need to worry about food at all. They did not know that people were starving and would not care either. Their attitude triggered the poor people to revolt. They could not bear the injustice any more. In reference to Document 2, which is a graph, the First Estate occupied 1% of the population, owned 10% of the land, and paid no taxes. The Second Estate occupied 3% of the population, owned 25% of the land, and used 3% of their income to pay taxes. The Third Estate occupied 96% of the population, owned 65% of the land, and used 50% of their income to pay taxes. The Third Estate owned most of the land before the French Revolution. However, if compared with their population, they owned very little land as individuals. They also had to pay half of their income as taxes. After paying the taxes and purchasing food, they literally had nothing left. The First and Second Estates did not have to worry about taxes at all, and they owned lots of land as individuals. Their life quality was highly superior to the commoners’. They exploited the lower class and made the lower class serve them as slaves. However, the commoners
They lived wealthy and luxurious lives and did not need to worry about food at all. They did not know that people were starving and would not care either. Their attitude triggered the poor people to revolt. They could not bear the injustice any more. In reference to Document 2, which is a graph, the First Estate occupied 1% of the population, owned 10% of the land, and paid no taxes. The Second Estate occupied 3% of the population, owned 25% of the land, and used 3% of their income to pay taxes. The Third Estate occupied 96% of the population, owned 65% of the land, and used 50% of their income to pay taxes. The Third Estate owned most of the land before the French Revolution. However, if compared with their population, they owned very little land as individuals. They also had to pay half of their income as taxes. After paying the taxes and purchasing food, they literally had nothing left. The First and Second Estates did not have to worry about taxes at all, and they owned lots of land as individuals. Their life quality was highly superior to the commoners’. They exploited the lower class and made the lower class serve them as slaves. However, the commoners