The "Third Estate" was a term used in France before the French Revolution to describe the common people, which included peasants, urban workers, and the bourgeoisie (middle class). Unlike the privileged classes, the First Estate (clergy) and the Second Estate (nobility), the Third Estate had to bear the burden of taxes and had little political power. In 1789, the Third Estate played a crucial role in the revolution by declaring itself the National Assembly, asserting that it represented the majority of the French population. This action marked a significant shift in power dynamics and led to the eventual overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic.