THE ESTATES GENERAL
BACKGROUND
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By 1787, France’s economy is in ruins for several reasons
• Lavish spending by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
• Poor taxing policies
• Seven Years War (1756-1763) and the American Revolution (1775-1783)
LOUIS XVI
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King Louis XVI promises to call together the Estates General, which had not met since
1614
• Representative body (think Congress)
• Louis hopes this will solve France’s problems
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The Estates General is scheduled to meet on May 5 th, 1789 at Versailles
KING LOUIS XVI OF FRANCE
WHAT WAS THE ESTATES GENERAL?
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This was a legislative assembly for the different French classes (Congress)
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The Estates General was made up of three classes
• Clergy - 1st Estate
• Nobility - 2nd Estate
• Bourgeoisie (including peasants) - 3rd Estate
CLERGY
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By 1789, the 1 st Estate (Clergy) was made up of 100,000 people
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Owned 5-10% of the land
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All property was tax-exempt
NOBILITY
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2nd Estate
NOBILITY
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The 2nd Estate (Nobility) was made up of 400,000 people
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Enjoyed the better government jobs
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Was also tax-exempt
BOURGEOISIE
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The 3rd Estate (Bourgeoisie, peasants) was made up of 25 million people
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The 3rd Estate paid all of the taxes
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This means the burden fell on France’s poorest
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Each Estate had one vote
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The 1st and 2nd Estates usually voted together
BOURGEOISIE
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The 3rd Estate had to sit by themselves at the Estates General
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They had to wear black robes
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Had to enter the Estates General through a side door
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The 3rd Estate (98% of France) is getting fed up…