Write a brief note on the Third Estate
The Third Estate consisted of peasants who formed 90% of the French population comprising workers, professionals, businessmen and manufacturers.
This Estate was the unprivileged section which enjoyed no political rights and social status, despite bearing the burden of the taxes. Not all worked on land. Within the Third Estate too there were evident disparities in wealth and style.
The professionals, businessmen and manufacturers formed the moneyed classes, and had access to education. Many of the peasants were landless or did subsistence farming. Though free, the condition of peasants was no better than serfs. The heavy taxes, tithes, taille, feudal dues, indirect taxes, forced labour, coupled with bad harvests brought them on the brink of starvation.