Final answer:
The life of a peasant in France's Third Estate under Louis XVI was characterized by heavy taxation, landownership with little privilege, and stark contrasts to the lavish lifestyles of the aristocracy. Their struggles, exacerbated by famine and economic hardship, played a central role in igniting the French Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The life of a peasant in France during the reign of Louis XVI was one of hardship and imbalance, largely due to the social and economic structures of the time. As members of the Third Estate, peasants were part of a class that made up about 95% of the population but bore the heaviest tax burden, despite only owning between 60-70% of the land. They had to pay heavy taxes to both the state and the Church, while the First and Second Estates enjoyed various privileges, including tax exemptions. In 1789, growing discontent among the Third Estate led to their refusal to participate in the Estates General until the voting system was reformed. This spurred the formation of the National Assembly, signifying a political rebellion that aimed to recognize the sovereignty of the people over the absolute monarchy. It provoked a series of uprisings that attacked symbols of royal authority and led to land redistribution. While the peasantry was suffering under economic strains, including famine and high food prices due to crop failures, the aristocracy lived a life of luxury and excess. The stark contrast in lifestyles between the aristocracy and the Third Estate, along with the economic hardships, was one of the catalysts for the eventual French Revolution of 1789. Riots, the Great Fear, and the revolutionary momentum highlighted the extreme inequalities. Peasants responded with violence by targeting the nobility's lands and destroying feudal documents, marking the beginning of the end for the feudal system in France. The revolution also saw the rise of the sans-culottes, radical working-class activists who were influential in advancing the revolutionary cause.