France before the French Revolution

Before the French Revolution, French society was built on the remains of feudalism, known as the estate system. The first was the clergy, the second was the nobility, and the third was the peasants. Peasants made up the majority of the population of French society, but more than 96% of them had no political or economic power. By contrast, the clergy and nobility controlled most of the French land and held all important government, military, and church positions. This is the pre-French Revolution period, known as the Ancien Regime. 

French society was not only based on feudalism but also focused on the political structure of an absolute monarchy. An absolute monarchy is a form of government that was common from medieval Europe until the late 18th century. It was about a society ruled by an all-powerful king or queen, who had complete control over every aspect of society.

Absolute monarchy often included two main features: Hereditary rules and the sacred rights of kings.  The absolute monarchy of medieval Europe also included the practice of the king’s divine rights.  This promoted the power of the monarch, as the king or queen did not receive power from the people, and thus the people could not control or participate in the rule of the monarch.

Louis XVI was the absolute monarch of France for several years until the French Revolution. Beginning of the reign of Louis XVI. France was under the Ancient Regime, a system based on the feudal tradition of absolute monarchy and estates. The Age of Enlightenment, which occurred throughout the 17th century, began to present Europeans against these principles and instead presented ideas based on liberty and equality. The spread of Enlightenment ideas eventually led to the outbreak of the French Revolution, ultimately resulting in the end of the French monarchy and the death of Louis XVI.

The French Revolution was a major event in the history of Western society and had a great impact on the world today. With the Revolution of 1789, the French overthrew the absolute monarchy and introduced a republic based on the principles of equality, liberty, and fraternity. As the revolution unfolded, the country underwent dramatic changes and was completely transformed from its previous form.