The Ancient Regime: Economy, Government, and Society in 18th Century Europe
The Ancient Regime
What is the ancient regime?
It is an economic, social, and political system in Europe in the 18th century, with an absolute monarchy as a form of government, a stratified society based on privileges and rural peasants as a majority of the population. If a country has had the same political system for a long time and you disapproved it, you can refer to it as the ancient regime.
Characteristics
ECONOMY:
-Agriculture based economy
-Entailed property by the privileged
-emergent bourgeoise
GOVERNMENT
–Absolute monarch
-Powerful clergy
-3rd estate without representation on the government
SOCIETY
-Stratified society, Privilege people ( nobility, clergy, king…) do not pay taxes
-3rd state more than the 90% of the population, they pay taxes
Factor of change
Economic growth and aspirations of the bourgeoisie were the main force of change in the 18th century.
– Bourgeoise: criticized privileges of nobles and clergy.
– Peasants: opposed the manorial system.
Enlightenment thinkers: began to challenge the foundations of the Ancient Regime. Propose a new social and political model.
Growth of economy
POPULATION GROWTH
Greater agricultural production + fewer major epidemics + economic growth
DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE
New agricultural techniques + new crops
DEVELOPMENT OF MANUFACTURING
-Domestic system : peasants were provided with tools and raw materials to produced in their houses
-Factory system: workers concentrated in a factory, state-run or privately owned
Increase in capital and the prospering of the bourgeoisie
Growing demand