13.1.2

The Estates-General

Test yourself

The Estates-General, 1789

Although France was very powerful throughout most of the 1700s, towards the end of the century it faced financial and political problems. These problems caused tensions within society, which led to demands for change.

Illustrative background for 1789Illustrative background for 1789 ?? "content

1789

  • By 1789, France was facing financial crisis:
    • The country had war debts.
    • Prices were rising at an alarming rate.
    • Bad harvests meant that many peasants faced starvation.
Illustrative background for The ‘Estates-General’Illustrative background for The ‘Estates-General’ ?? "content

The ‘Estates-General’

  • France’s king, Louis XVI, agreed to call a meeting between France’s three ‘estates’ (key groups), so that they could discuss the problems and advise the king on what to do.
  • This meeting was known as the ‘Estates-General’.
Illustrative background for The EstatesIllustrative background for The Estates ?? "content

The Estates

  • The First Estate was made of up the clergy (people who work in the church like bishops, priests, etc).
  • The Second Estate was made up of the nobility.
  • The Third Estate was made up of the rest of the population (the middle-classes, workers and peasants).
  • Although the Third Estate contained the vast majority of the population (around 98% of French society were within the Third Estate), they had no more political power than the First Estate or Second Estate.
Illustrative background for Disagreement Illustrative background for Disagreement  ?? "content

Disagreement

  • The meeting did not go well.
  • The Estates-General would not agree to the king’s demands for more taxes, and the Third Estate, in particular, was angered by their lack of political power and their treatment within society.
Illustrative background for The National AssemblyIllustrative background for The National Assembly ?? "content

The National Assembly

  • Desperate for more political recognition and a greater say in how the country should be run, the Third Estate broke off to form a new group called the National Assembly.
  • They demanded political reform and wanted to have their say in French politics.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium