Estates General Flashcards
Estates General
Called in May 1789 for the first time in almost 150 years.
Included members of all 3 estates.
The 3rd estate wished for voting to be done by head, so they couldn’t be outvoted by the 1st and 2nd estate.
Louis called for the estates to meet separately, but the 3rd Estate refused. On the 20th June 1789, the 3rd Estate were locked out of their usual meeting hall, and moved to the ‘Tennis Court’, where the Tennis Court Oath was sworn: that they would not disperse until they had given France a new constitution
Cahiers de doleances
A list of grievances drawn up by each estate to be presented at the Estates General
National Assembly
17th June 1789 the 3rd Estate voted to call themselves the National Assembly, and they claimed that they represented the French people
Tennis Court Oath
20th June 1789, the National Assembly were locked out of their usual meeting hall. They moved to the ‘Tennis Court’, where they swore that they would not disperse until France had been given a new constitution
Louis’ weakness
At first Louis opposed the voting by head measure, yet he gave in after rumours of an invasion of the Palace of Versailles & discontent in Paris, ordering the 1st & 2nd Estates to meet with the National Assembly.
This was a major turning point, as the King was unable to control events
