The Estates General - PowerPoint Presentation

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.

Voting Rights in the Estates Gen. After meeting separately as each estate; there was 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 leadership.***

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 The Bastille As the NA got down to business and 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 Necker)…thats when the rioting began.

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. July 14th, 1789

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