The Ancient Regime French for Old Order was the way society was run, in a period in French history occurring before the French Revolution 1789 – 1799. France was ruled by an absolute monarchy a system where the king was classed as divine – an infallible role King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The French society was separated into classes or Estates. The first Estate was the Clergy who were extremely rich. There were about 100,000 of these people. They had control over censorship of the press and of educational institutions Their wealth came from the Roman Catholic Church, which...
even if they were still starving and lashed out, the Bourgeoisie now had a force to contain them. The Bourgeoisie formed the National Assembly, a National Guard, a new constitution, the Declaration of Rights to Men, power over the masses, power over the King, the elimination of tax exemptions, elimination of classes, elimination of tolls and pensions, elimination of feudal dues and tithes. The Bourgeoisie had power, had abolished the taxes that they were loathe to pay and had placed themselves in high positions of power to rule France, with the King a virtual prisoner in his own country.