Overview
This lecture discusses the 1789 meeting of the Estates General, highlighting its outdated structure, the demands and frustrations of the Third Estate, and the formation of the National Assembly, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
The Estates General in 1789
- The Estates General convened in 1789 for the first time in 175 years.
- It was an advisory body for the king, not a formal parliament.
- France had changed significantly since the last meeting, but the Estates General structure had not.
Structure and Voting System
- The Estates General consisted of three estates: First (clergy), Second (nobility), and Third (everyone else, 97% of the population).
- Each estate had one vote, so the clergy and nobility could always outvote the Third Estate.
- The system ignored the growing influence and size of the Bourgeoisie (middle class).
The Bourgeoisie and Third Estate Demands
- The Bourgeoisie were wealthy professionals, merchants, and lawyers who lacked noble titles and privileges.
- The Third Estate bore most of the tax burden, while clergy and nobility were largely exempt.
- Abbé Sieyès, a clergyman, wrote "What is the Third Estate?", arguing that the Third Estate was essential to France.
- The Third Estate initially sought moderate reforms, not radical changes.
Proposed Reforms and the King's Response
- The Third Estate wanted to double their delegates and switch to voting by head (individual votes).
- Voting by head would allow some liberal nobles and clergy to side with the Third Estate.
- King Louis XVI agreed to double the Third Estate's delegates but kept the old voting system, undermining the reform.
Events Leading to the National Assembly
- Social customs and privilege were evident, as seen in the "Hat Fiasco" during the meeting.
- The Third Estate, frustrated by lack of progress, left and proclaimed themselves the National Assembly without royal approval.
- They invited clergy and nobility to join them, declaring they represented the French nation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Estates General — Advisory assembly of representatives from the three estates of France.
- Estate — Social class: First (clergy), Second (nobility), Third (commoners, including Bourgeoisie).
- Bourgeoisie — Wealthy, non-noble professional and commercial class in France.
- National Assembly — The new legislative body formed by the Third Estate in 1789.
- Voting by head — System where each delegate votes individually, rather than by estate.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Memorize the year 1789 as the start of the French Revolution.
- Review Abbé Sieyès’s pamphlet "What is the Third Estate?" for essay examples.
- Prepare for the next lecture on the events following the formation of the National Assembly.