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...

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…