Questions and Answers
Louis XVI had the power to impose taxes without calling a meeting of the Estates General.
False
The last meeting of the Estates General before 1789 was held in 1614.
True
Members of the third estate were seated in the front during the assembly of the Estates General.
False
The representatives of the third estate declared themselves the National Assembly on 20 June 1789.
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Voting in the Estates General had always been conducted with each member having one vote.
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The Estates General was last convened in 1614 before Louis XVI called for a new assembly in 1789.
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All three estates had equal representation with 300 representatives each during the assembly called by Louis XVI.
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Members of the third estate demanded that voting in the Estates General be conducted by individual votes rather than by estate.
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The National Assembly was established on June 20, 1789, by the first estate in protest against the king's proposals.
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Mirabeau was born into a noble family but believed in eliminating feudal privileges in society.
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Study Notes
The Estates General and Taxation
- Louis XVI needed to increase taxes but couldn't impose them unilaterally; he was required to convene the Estates General.
- The Estates General, a political assembly, consisted of representatives from three estates: Clergy, Nobility, and Commoners (Third Estate).
- A meeting had not been called since 1614 until Louis XVI did so on May 5, 1789, at Versailles.
- Each of the first and second estates sent 300 representatives, while the third estate had 600 members but were relegated to stand at the back.
- The Third Estate's representatives were primarily from wealthier and educated backgrounds; peasants, artisans, and women were excluded from the assembly.
Demands of the Third Estate
- The Third Estate demanded voting by individual members instead of by estate, following democratic principles advocated by philosophers like Rousseau.
- When Louis XVI rejected this proposal, members of the Third Estate walked out in protest, asserting their view as representatives of the entire French nation.
- On June 20, 1789, they gathered in an indoor tennis court and declared themselves the National Assembly, pledging to draft a constitution.
Key Figures
- Mirabeau and Abbé Sieyès were significant leaders of the National Assembly; Mirabeau advocated for abolishing feudal privileges despite being from a noble family.
- Sieyès wrote the influential pamphlet "What is the Third Estate?"
Significant Events and Dates
- 1774: Louis XVI ascends to the throne, facing economic difficulties and social unrest.
- 1789: Estates General convened, National Assembly formed, and the Bastille is stormed, sparking widespread unrest.
- 1791: Constitution drafted to limit the king's power and secure equal rights for all.
- 1792-1793: France established as a republic; Louis XVI is executed.
- 1793: The Directory takes over after the fall of the Jacobins.
- 1804: Napoleon rises to power as First Consul and later Emperor.
- 1815: Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.
The Night of August 4, 1789
- The National Assembly abolished the feudal system of obligations; clergy lost privileges.
- Tithes were abolished, and Church lands were confiscated, granting the government assets worth approximately 2 billion livres.
The Political System Under the Constitution of 1791
- The newly drafted constitution aimed to distribute power across the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches, establishing France as a constitutional monarchy.
- Voting rights were limited: about 4 million active citizens (voters) vs. 3 million passive citizens (without voting rights).
- Active citizens were men over 25 who paid taxes equivalent to 3 days' wages; others, including women, were classified as passive citizens.
Declaration of Rights
- The Constitution began with a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, establishing numerous fundamental rights including life, liberty, and equality before the law.
Revolutionary Sentiments
- Revolutionary journalist Jean-Paul Marat criticized the Constitution in L'Ami du peuple, arguing that it favored the wealthy and perpetuated poverty among the oppressed, emphasizing the need for more radical change.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the events leading up to the French Revolution, focusing on Louis XVI's taxation policies and the role of the Estates General. Understand the political dynamics of the Old Regime and how they influenced the revolution. Assess your grasp of this pivotal moment in history.
