The Meeting of the Estates-General

Question 1

When did the Estates-General meet?

Answer 1

5th May 1789

Question 2

Why would the Third Estate have supported the King?

Answer 2

If he had promise reforms

Question 3

Why did the Third Estate not support the King?

Answer 3

The government had not taken the initiative of reforms and put forward no such programme
Necker spoke about fairer taxation but did not mention any other reforms

Question 4

What had the cahiers demanded that had not been mentioned?

Answer 4

A new constitution

Question 5

Why was the Estates-General summoned?

Answer 5

To deal with France’s financial crisis

Question 6

What did the Estates-General meeting fall to squabbling over?

Answer 6

Its own structure

Question 7

How had the Third Estate thought they were voting?

Answer 7

By head, hence its double representation

Question 8

What did the Third Estate refuse?

Answer 8

The information that they would be voting by order and not head

Question 9

What would therefore be meaningless to the Third Estate?

Answer 9

Their double representation

Question 10

Were the Estates meant to meet together?

Answer 10

No

Question 11

What did the Third Estate argue for and why did the other two Estates oppose this?

Answer 11

Voting by head

They representatives of the Third Estate were more numerous so they would be outvoted

Question 12

Although the Estates-General met separately, what did the Third Estate insist?

Answer 12

That the credentials of those who claimed to have been elected should be verified in a common session comprised of the deputies of all three estates

Question 13

Although the proposed verification of deputies was seen as a trivial matter, what was it setting a precedent for?

Answer 13

Deciding whether the Estates-General should meet as one body (and vote by head) when discussing all other matters

Question 14

Did the nobles and clergy accept or reject the proposition of deputy verification?

Answer 14

Reject

Question 15

The nobles declared themselves a separate order by how many votes?

Answer 15

188 to 46

Question 16

The clergy declared themselves a separate order by how many votes?

Answer 16

133 to 114

Question 17

Why was there deadlock for 6 weeks?

Answer 17

Lack of agreement about the key issue of how the Estates-General would vote
The Third Estate refused to do anything until the other two orders joined them

Question 18

What was shuttle diplomacy? Did it succeed?

Answer 18

Negotiations conducted by a mediator for parties reluctant to hold direct discussion. No

Question 19

When did shuttle diplomacy continue to?

Answer 19

27th May

Question 20

What did the Third Estate do on 28th May?

Answer 20

Began meeting on their own calling themselves the Communes (Commons)