Final answer:
The 'Third Estate' in France referred to everybody not part of the clergy or nobility, including peasants, the urban poor, and the bourgeoisie. They carried the tax burden and sought more political power, contributing to the start of the French Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
In France at this time, the phrase "Third Estate" referred to everyone in France who wasn't a member of the clergy or the aristocracy. The First Estate was composed of the Catholic clergy, who held significant land and were largely exempt from taxes. The Second Estate consisted of the nobility, who also enjoyed tax exemptions and held a large portion of land. The Third Estate, on the other hand, included the remaining 95% of the population, such as peasants, the urban poor, the bourgeoisie, and virtually all others not in the First or Second Estates. These individuals bore the brunt of taxation while having limited political power despite their numbers. In 1789, tensions rose, culminating in the Third Estate forming the National Assembly and declaring themselves a new governmental force representing the common people, leading to the French Revolution and the eventual fall of the Bastille, symbolizing the demand for a more equitable society.