What was one of the key features of the social structure in pre-revolutionary France?

The social structure in pre-revolutionary France was characterized by a strict division among estates, which played a significant role in the dynamics of French society at the time. French society was divided primarily into three estates: the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (commoners). Each estate had its own privileges, rights, and responsibilities, creating a significant disparity in wealth and power among them.

This division caused considerable tension, especially as the Third Estate, which comprised the majority of the population, bore the burden of heavy taxation while having little political power and few rights compared to the other estates. The inequities built into this system were key factors that ultimately led to the French Revolution, as the Third Estate began to demand greater representation and equality.

Thus, the strict division among estates is recognized as a defining feature of the social structure in pre-revolutionary France, marking the period’s societal hierarchies and the resulting discontent that would fuel revolutionary change.