Old Regime
Aracely Figueroa
2nd period Before 1789, in the Old Regime, there were many changes made throughout the major countries of Europe that dealt with power. Since the Old Regime was before the year of 1789, marking that it was prior to the French Revolution, many major changes were seen. When it came to politics, kings started to rise in power while popes and nobles lost most of their political power, yet peasants still had no rights. When it came to economy many peasants were in trouble since they had to pay taxes even when they could not, and it was most focused on family economy. Society city population was growing very quickly with high numbers and society was made up of 2 major groups. The Old Regime consisted of three elements and one of those elements was politics which was based on power and who or what ruled over a certain region. The 18th century was known as the great age of the aristocracy. The nobility had an approximately 1 to 5 percent of the entire population of any country that was given. Yet it was known that in every country the nobility was the single wealthiest sector of the population and had the widest degree of social, economic and political power; they also set the tone of polite society.1 “The British nobility was known as the smallest, wealthiest, best defined, and most socially responsible aristocracy resided in Great Britain.”2. The French nobility were known as “one of the sword” and “of the sword”.3 When it came to peasants it is told that most French peasants owned some land, but there were few serfs in eastern France. Also that nearly all French peasants were subject to certain feudal dues, they included the required use for payment of the lord’s mill to grind grain and his oven to bake bread.4 This basically means that many peasants in this time had no political right to run themselves and their lives especially because they had to pay taxes. Since they did not have any rights they would work for the King in order
2nd period Before 1789, in the Old Regime, there were many changes made throughout the major countries of Europe that dealt with power. Since the Old Regime was before the year of 1789, marking that it was prior to the French Revolution, many major changes were seen. When it came to politics, kings started to rise in power while popes and nobles lost most of their political power, yet peasants still had no rights. When it came to economy many peasants were in trouble since they had to pay taxes even when they could not, and it was most focused on family economy. Society city population was growing very quickly with high numbers and society was made up of 2 major groups. The Old Regime consisted of three elements and one of those elements was politics which was based on power and who or what ruled over a certain region. The 18th century was known as the great age of the aristocracy. The nobility had an approximately 1 to 5 percent of the entire population of any country that was given. Yet it was known that in every country the nobility was the single wealthiest sector of the population and had the widest degree of social, economic and political power; they also set the tone of polite society.1 “The British nobility was known as the smallest, wealthiest, best defined, and most socially responsible aristocracy resided in Great Britain.”2. The French nobility were known as “one of the sword” and “of the sword”.3 When it came to peasants it is told that most French peasants owned some land, but there were few serfs in eastern France. Also that nearly all French peasants were subject to certain feudal dues, they included the required use for payment of the lord’s mill to grind grain and his oven to bake bread.4 This basically means that many peasants in this time had no political right to run themselves and their lives especially because they had to pay taxes. Since they did not have any rights they would work for the King in order