The Third Estate was a political and social group made up of the vast majority of the population of France, at the time of the Old Regime prior to the French Revolution. Although this group had minimal political representation, they lacked all kinds of political weight in the monarchical courts and the limited legislatures of the time.
Therefore, the members of the Third Estate looked for an equal representation in front of the government, as well as a greater political participation and a greater amount of civil and social rights recognized in their favor.
