Because it stood for the despotic power of the king
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What drained the financial resources of France?
Long years of wars - maintenance of palace of Versailles
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France helped how many American colonies? and why?
13 - to gain independence from the common enemy, Britain
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What is Livre?
Unit of currency in France, discontinued in 1794
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Why was the state forced to increase taxes?
To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army, the court, running government offices or universities
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The French society was divided into three estates, the ________, the ______ and ________ in 18th century.
Clergy, Nobility and the third estate
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What term is usually used to describe the society and institutions of France before 1789?
The Old Regime
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______ made up about 90% of the population.
Peasants
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Who owned 60 per cent of the land?
Nobles, the Church and other richer members of third estate.
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Who enjoyed privileges by birth? Mention the two privileges.
The Clergy and The Nobility - Exemption from paying taxes and enjoyed the feudal privileges
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Explain Tithe
It was a tax levied by the church compromising one-tenth of the agricultural produce
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What led to subsistence crisis?
The population of France rose. This led to a rapid increase in the demand for foodgrains. Production of of grainsand wages did not keep pace with rise in demand
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Why did the price of Bread rise rapidly?
The production of grain could not keep up with growing population which led to increase in prices of bread which was the staple diet of most
15
Who wrote 'Two Treaties of Government'?
John Locke
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Who put forward the ideas of a society based on freedom and equal laws and opportunities for all?