Answer:
(i) In the past, peasants and workers had
participated in revolts against increasing taxes and food scarcity.
(ii)
But they lacked the means and programmes to carry out full-scale measures that
would bring about a change in the social and economic order.
(iii)
The 18th century witnessed the emergence of social groups termed the "Middle
Class", who earned their wealth through an expanding overseas trade and
from the manufacture of goods such as woollen and silk textiles that were
either exported or bought by the richer members of the society.
(iv)
In addition to the merchants and manufacturers, the third estate included
professionals such as lawyers or administrative officers.
(v)
All of these were educated and believed that no group in the society should be
privileged by birth. Rather a person's social position must depend on his
merit.
These
ideas envisaging a society, based on freedom and equal laws and opportunities
for all, were put forward by philosophers.
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