Grievances Lists of Grievances on the \"Excerpts

Grievances

Lists of Grievances

On the "Excerpts from the 1789 French 'Lists of Grievances:'" Select one issue that appears in more than one of the lists reproduced here, and discuss how this issue helps us understand the nature of Old Regime society and/or economy. Be sure to give the page numbers for the grievances you discuss.

One of the themes that appear in several places in the list deals with equality. Not equality in the sense that all men are to be considered equal, but they should contribute to the state in a uniform manner that is consistent for both the poor as well as the people in privilege. For example, one of the grievances asks that the church no long have the authority to tax arbitrarily and the tax rate should be modeled after the Third Estate (Beik, p. 46). It also seems that beverages are taxed even though they are essential to a person's livelihood. Thus if a person is so poor that they could not pay the tax for water then this is something akin to a death sentence that is granted simply for being poor.

There is also mention of the clergy being treated as citizens of the state rather than holding a special position in society that is exempt from taxation (Beik, p. 48). Therefore there is also a calling for more equality in treatment as well as in monetary matters. There seems to be a sense that the different classes in society should be more collaborative than divisive and share as a responsibility by their membership in society in general than merely their social class. There is also mention of the spending of local monies in the local communities to build jobs and combat poverty which is similar to many arguments that persist in our modern society.

2) On the "Petition of Women to the Third Estate to the King:" Discuss one or two ways in which this petition asks the King to address gender inequality under the Old Regime. In your view, is there any irony in an appeal to a king whose power is based in part on his "paternal" authority (Bossuet's term)?

The petition tackles gender inequality from a few different angles. The women in the Third Estate are nearly all born without any money or opportunity to support themselves and are left with very few options in life. The pretty women have just as bad of a life as the uglier ones that are generally required to perform tedious labor (Levy, Applewhite, & Johnson). The pretty ones are usually victimized by their first seducer and have little knowledge of the lives that will be required of him. They are not wise enough to be able to predict their own ends. Many of them end up selling their bodies as a last resort when they have exhausted all other options.

There is some irony in making an appeal to a king in a patriarchal system. However, I think there is a good argument contained in the document about why this appeal is being made. Basically there is a lack of viable options. Representation in the Third Estate is not an effective option because their voices would just be muffled in the system. Furthermore, even though the king is male in an inherently sexist system, the king also has a mother, wife, and probably other women in his life that are dear to him. Thus the emotional appeal is one that could arguably be met with a positive response. Finally the women also make an appeal on the grounds that it will improve the conditions of the state. That mothers can educate their children to a sufficient level to "properly" worship the king.

3) On "The Rural Setting:" Read primary source documents 16-19 (pp. 97-100) carefully. Do you think the men and women subject to the regulations outlined in these documents considered themselves primarily to be subjects of the French king and members of the French nation? Or would they have identified themselves as something else, and if so, what would those identities be?