Question

Which out of these was a direct tax paid by the members of the third estate?
A. Tithe
B. Capitation
C. Taille
D. Gabelle

Answer 1

Hint: French followed the feudal system in which the society of estates was a part of it. The Big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants, landless labor, and servants were grouped as the third estate. These peoples were required to serve the membranes of the other estates, such as nobles and clergy.

Complete answer:
In the classification of the organized system of estates, about \[90\] percent of the population consists of peasants. However, the small population of them had their land, while $60$ percent of the land was owned by nobles, church, and other higher-class members of the third estate. The members of the two estates, such as the nobles and the clergy were allowed to enjoy certain rights in the society from their birth. Mainly they were exempted from paying the taxes to the state. These two classes of estates enjoyed certain privileges such as feudal dues, that are extracted from the peasants. The peasants were obliged to pay their labor and service to the above two estates. They were asked to work in their field's army and also in the construction of roads.
The church extracted their share of taxes from the peasants from other members of the third estate known as tithes. This type of tax was divided into two major groups such as direct and indirect tax. Taille is known as the direct tax. The indirect taxes were levied on articles such as salt or tobacco.

So, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: Initially, Livre is known as the unit of currency in France but later discontinued after $1794$. Under the rule of Louis XVI, France helped the American colonies to gain independence which pushed them into debt. The French government decided to divide the society into three estates, and in which the third estate was alone subjected to pay taxes.