Leaders and Events in the Estates General
1789 – May, The Estates General met for first time since
1614. Among the deputies who arrived to represent the
three estates were:
Maximilian Robespierre – a lawyer from the middle class,
representing the Third Estate of Artois. An outspoken
supporter of true democracy for the people, he led a group
of 30 left wing radicals, recruited supporters from the Paris
bourgeoisie (rich middle class) and later became the leader
of the Jacobin Club, a group of extreme revolutionaries
Abbé Sieyès - a priest and abbot (abbé), who although he
was from the First Estate, was elected to represent the
Third Estate.
Wrote an important pamphlet: Qu'est-ce que le tiers état?
that asked "What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has
it been up to now in the political order? Nothing. What
does it demand? To become something herein."
At the meeting of the Estates General he suggested that the
Third Estate start voting on new laws and not wait for the
first two estates to join.
le comte de Mirabeau (Honoré Riqueti)– from a middle
class family that had bought their nobility.
Imprisoned twice and exiled several times, he was rejected
by his local district to represent the Second Estate, so
instead represented the Third Estate of Aix en Provence.
Inspired by pamphlets from the American Revolution and
the British Parliament system, he favored a constitutional
monarchy.
At the meeting of the Estates-General he suggested that the
three estates split into separate rooms to avoid arguing too
much.
Talleyrand (Charles Maurice de) – from a poor but noble
family from Paris, he entered the clergy to gain wealth.
After becoming bishop, he attended the Estates General
representing the First Estate. He was not a religious
believer, and supported the revolution. He particularly
helped with the Civil Constitution of the Clergy.
June 17 – After more deputies from the first and second
estates joined the proceedings of the third estate, they
declared themselves a National Assembly.
June 20 – Tennis Court Oath King Louis XVI, in protest of
the chaos going on at the Estates General, locked out
everyone who claimed to belong to the “National
Assembly”. Instead, the N.A. met in the nearby ‘tennis
court’ and swore not to leave until the king had recognized
him and granted a constitution.
July 12 – Civil Constitution of the Clergy declared all
church land to be owned by the state, all priests and bishops
to be locally elected, and banned nobles from automatically
becoming bishops.
July 14th – The Storming of the Bastille
August 4 – Abolition of Feudal Dues outlawed taxes
imposed by noble land owners and the church. Outlawed
privileges and ordered nobles and clergy to pay taxes as
well.
August 26 – Declaration of Rights of Man and the Citizen -