Electing the Deputies Flashcards
Why had the government made no attempt to influence the elections to the Estates-General?
It had no candidates of its own
What were the government to a degree concerned about when the deputies were elected?
Those chosen would be in general sympathetic to the dire economic circumstances the country was in, and be supportive to any proposals made by the King
For the First Estate, who was overwhelmingly elected?
Parish priests
How many of the clergy’s deputies were parish priests?
240 out of 291
How many of the clergy’s deputies were bishops?
51 out of 291
Where were the majority of the Second Estate’s deputies from?
Old noble families in the provinces, many of them poor and conservative
How many of the Second Estate’s deputies were from old noble families in the provinces?
192 out of 282
How many of the Second Estate’s deputies could be classed as liberals?
90 out of 282
Who were to play a leading role in the Estates-General?
Liberal deputies of the Second Estate
How many deputies were elected to represent the Third Estate?
580
Why were all the deputies of the Third Estate educated, articulate and well-off, rather than artisans or peasants?
Deputies were expected to pay their own expenses Peasants and artisans could not afford this
What were the largest group in the Third Estate Deputies?
Venal office holders
What % of Third Estate deputies were venal office holders?
43%
What % of Third Estate deputies were lawyers?
35%
What proportion of Third Estate deputies had some legal qualification?
2/3
