Final answer:
The three estates of France during the French Revolution were the clergy, nobility, and the rest of the population. The first estate consisted of the clergy and paid 2% of their income in taxes, while the second estate was exempt from taxes. The third estate, which made up 97% of the population, bore the burden of paying taxes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The makeup of the three estates of France during the French Revolution can be explained as follows:
- First Estate: This estate consisted of the clergy, which made up about 1% of the French population. They owned around 10% of the lands but had to pay about 2% of their income in taxes to the French government.
- Second Estate: The nobility made up the second estate, accounting for about 2% of the population. They controlled around 20% of the land and were exempt from paying taxes.
- Third Estate: The third estate comprised the remaining 97% of the French population. It included diverse groups like the bourgeoisie (middle class), peasants, urban laborers, and professionals like merchants and doctors. They held about 60-70% of the land and bore the burden of paying taxes.
The taxes on the French people were distributed unequally. The first and second estates, who were the clergy and nobility, respectively, paid significantly less or no taxes compared to the third estate, which included the majority of the population.