The Estates General
France Pushes for Democracy (1789)
May 1789.
- For the first time in over 175 years, the Estates
General meets.
- Prior to the meeting the King ordered the
representatives of each estate to compile a list of
grievances to be discussed at the meeting;
known as cahiers.
- Although the reps from the 1st and 2nd Est. were
extremely pleased with this process, the 3rd estate
found the cahiers to be a reinforcement of the
Kings influence (and not a democratic consultation
of the people).
Turn your textbook to
page 16 -- activity
The Meeting of the E.G.
• Over the winter of 1789 each of the districts worked
on their cahiers and held regional elections (for the
representatives of each estate at the EG.
• Their were 234 districts and each one elected the
following representatives:
1st (2 reps) / 2nd (2 reps) / 3rd (4
reps)
• Upon the initial meeting at Versailles (May 5th,
1789). The main issue was voting rights for each
estate.
After meeting
estate;Gen.
there was
Voting separately
Rights in as
theeach
Estates
a different view of how decisions should be made.
- The 1st and 2nd estate wanted to vote by
estate.. so each would have a yay or nay per
group.
- The 3rd estate wanted to vote per individual
(each member of each estate counts for individual
yay or nay).
*** This caused a major riff in the EG. as nothing
could get accomplished -- all members looked to
Louis XVI but he did not offer any support or
The 3rd Estate Gains Support
- The lack of leadership prompts members of other
estates (mainly lower 2nd estates men at first) to
join the 3rd estate and pressure King L16 to make
a political move.
- By June 13, over 100 members of the other
estates had joined the 3rd.
- After a few more days, many nobles who wished
for leadership had also joined with the 3rd Est. (An
important figure was Comte de Mirabeau.
The national Assembly...
• Because the 3rd est. had popular support from
individuals of each level of the EG. -- they were the
truest representation of the nation and thus declared
themselves the National Assembly.
• In the next motion, the NA declared that all taxes
were invalidated (in terms of govt spending) unless
approved by them.
• This move is significant as this move declared
themselves the official governing body in France.
(June 1789)
- L16 and his government was facing the issue of
how to control and eliminate the NA.
- L16 relied on his ability to negotiate...which didn't
end up working.
- So when the NA was locked of the meeting
chamber they resorted to a tennis court.
- Once there, they made a promise to not abandon
this areas until a just constitution was drafted.
- This was known as the Tennis Court Oath.
Louis XVI Losing Control.
• By siding against the NA, Louis XVI was dividing his
support for his government ... many people were
siding with the newly created NA.
• What made matters worse was that L16 was not
taking a strong enough stance against the NA
(according to his nobility).
• L16s profound lack of leadership and confusing
tactics (bringing in the military to 'quiet' the street
protests had finally reached a boiling point).
• Because of inaction, more and more people began
to side with the NA.
The Storming of the Bastille
The
Storming
of TheandBastille
- As the
NA got
down to business
wrote their
constitution; L16 did nothing…his inaction caused
rioting in the streets and crime (as there was no
clear leadership).
- People were also protesting the rising cost of bread
(due to inflation)
- In order for citizens and members from the 1st and
2nd estate to stay safe, they began arming
themselves.
- People were becoming increasingly skeptical, and
when L16 finally made a move (dismissed
July 14th, 1789
• When the rioting reached its peak, L16 called in the
royal guard (army) to attempt to create peace in
Paris….this caused more problems.
• Citizens pillaged the Invalides and found
weapons…they used these weapons to attack the
Bastille - a symbol of the royal authority.
• After a standoff, the people took the Bastille and
liberated the prisoners.
• This day is now celebrated as a National Holiday in
France.
Louis XVI has lost it
- At this point, Louis XVI had lost both political
influence to the NA. and also the ability to control
the mobs in Paris.
- With so much uprising by the 3rd estate many
members of the 2nd and 1st began to flee Paris…
called Emigres
- The period after the storming of the Bastille was
known as The Great Fear, as there was no
consistency from the King, a growing economic
crisis and roaming mobs around Paris.
- As the National Assembly began to assert its
control over French Politics, Louis XVI only sat
back and observed. (July 1789)
- The NA made the following reforms:
- Relinquished feudal privileges
- Noble dues and taxes abolished
- The NA also passed the declaration the rights of
man (Aug 1789) will be studied at end of lecture.
March on Versailles (oct 1789)
- Although the NA had made political decisions, the
people of France still looked to L16 to make political
decisions…which he wasn’t good at.
- The Women of France (who controlled the finances of
the house) were continually upset by the rising coast of
bread.
- As the prices rose, the potential for a winter Famine was
probable, so the women took to the streets to protest.
- Oct 5 1789 - 6,000 women marched to Versailles to
express their anger to the King (who had fled there to stay
safe from the paris mob). This event was another example
of growing discontent with the king…this was known as
the March on Versailles.
Declaration of Rights of Man
read pages 21-23
Questions 1-3
with OPCVL
Ill explain OPVCL