The ancien regime "means old regime in French" and is the term applied to practically every facet
             of European social, economic, and political development before the French Revolution of 1789.
             A striking feature of the ancien regime was the contrast in the lives and experiences of the peoples
             of different rank. It was based on tradition and hierarchical. It was divided into classes:
             aristocrats, urban middle class (bourgeoisie), labor (guilds), and rural peasants. During this time
             the aristocrats maintained power and privilege while the peasants struggled to survive. This
             privilege and power was also extended to the Catholic Church. Discrimination occurred because
             of religion not race (example Jews). Each were given privilege while the masses paid their way
             and served them. Society ruled by the privileged and based on group rights rather than individual
             rights. The society and economy of the old regime were affected by changes like the Agricultural
             Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and the writings of members of the Enlightenment. The
             economic and social factors resulting from this way of life brought on the French Revolution in at
             The economy depended on land. A class system regulated the economy. The peasants struggled
             to survive paying taxes and working for their rich landowners. Peasants in the country suffered at
             the hands of their landlords and government paying the feudal taxes of the privileged few. Their
             situation did not change after the "Agricultural Revolution." Increased production only benefited
             the landlords and middlemen not the peasants working on the land. Discontent caused unrest and
             riots. The most dramatic rebellion was Pugachev's rebellion from 1791-95 which involved
             southern Russia. Another problem that effected the peasants was the growth in population.
             The peasants were upset with the landlords changing the ways of production to increase profits.
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