The Old Regime

The traditional political, social, and economic system of France before 1789 was called the Old Regime. Under the Old Regime, the king was an absolute monarch, the clergy and nobles enjoyed many privileges, and the commoners burdened by heavy taxes were denied any political rights. And, the people were divided into three rigid, distinct classes, called Estates.

The political cartoonist is making a bitter
comment of the fact that peasants must
pay taxes and other dues to support the
church, the nobles, and the government,
while the clergy and nobles were exempt
from most taxes.
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