Estates-General And The French Revolution

In the latter years of the 18th century, France was in a state of crisis. The price of foreign wars had left the crown crippled with debt, poor harvests had left its peasantry starving, and tax exemptions on the wealthy classes prevented the French government from accessing huge sources of revenue (Mignet, 1939). The kingdom needed radical change if it was to restore its solvency and prevent disaster.

In response to the crisis King Louis the XVI called a meeting of the Estates-General. The Estates-General was analogous to the English parliament although it never amassed the same power (Güttner, 2000). It was comprised of representatives from the three estates: the nobles, the clergy, and the common people. The king summoned the Estates-General

In accordance with tradition, elections were held to select the delegates who would represent the estates (Goyau 1912). The third estate would have twice the number of the other estates procured from their ranks. Although the representatives from the third estate was equal to that of both the others combined, all three of the estates had equal voting power on decisions. Mignet (1939) wrote that: “The government was not opposed to the vote by poll in pecuniary matters, it being more expeditious; but in political questions it declared itself in favour of voting by order, as a more effectual check on innovations” (p. 1). The phrase: “Voting by order”, references the policy of each estate receiving one vote on each issue. It was a policy that enraged the third estate. They represented 97% of the French population, but could easily be outvoted by the other two estates. They met without the other two estates, and adopted the revolutionary title of: “The National Assembly”. Fling (1913) says they vowed to: “Make a constitution for France, and [recognize] the existence of no veto power between [themselves] and the king” (p. 11). The clergy had decided to join the National Assembly, but before they could act the king closed the building the National Assembly was convening in (Fling, 1913). The National Assembly congregated in a nearby tennis court, and made this famous