2) The Estates General of 1789 [text pp. 74-75]

The financial crisis and the empty treasury convinced
Louis XVI to call an Estates General for the first time in 175 years.

May 1789: the 3 Estates sent delegates to Versailles to discuss fixing the tax system and raising money.

The problem of bloc voting was still there, though.

In an unprecedented move, the 3 rd Estate and some members of the 1 st and 2 nd moved to count votes by simple majority instead of by bloc.
 Louis XVI was confused: “We can’t do that!” So, he said no, so an important event occurred in June 1789:
- When news of Louis’ refusal hit the Estates General, the 3 rd Estate and supporters from the 1 st and 2 nd broke away led by a nobleman: the Count of
Mirabeau .
- They all went to the King’s Royal Tennis Court and refused to leave until their demands were met.
- This would be known as the Tennis Court Oath; it demanded 2 things:
a) A new constitution for France, making a constitutional monarchy
b) Replacing the Estates General with a National
Assembly which represented everyone without the 3
Estates or bloc voting.
 Louis hesitated…then agreed!
 So now, France has a new order of government seen in the chart below:

God
King
Limits
Approves
Constitution
Consults
(Voting done by simple majority)
National Assembly
Elect
People

So, the 3 rd Estate is happy, some in the 1 st and 2 nd
Estate are happy, and the king is ok with it.
 The Revolution seems complete, but it wouldn’t last, and it eventually fell apart violently.
Assignment
Using what you learned so far about the French Revolution from the text and the notes, explain in a paragraph or two why you think this arrangement fell apart. Be sure to back up your answer with facts.