French Revolution Notes
WHEN WAS THE FRENCH REVOLUTION?
1789
May Estates General * Louis 16th faced with bankruptcy called for a meeting of the Estates General in 1788 * The actual meeting was set for May * They had the traditional right to authorize taxation * Consisted of representatives from each of the three estates * Louis hope to find new methods to RAISE MONEY and to solve the FINANCIAL CRISIS * Representatives were chosen, collect complaints complaints: * Financial reform * Reforms in the whole social system * Aims of the estates:
Nobles:
* Nobles refused to give up their tax exemption * Nobles forced the king to agree to their proposal- CALLING OF THE ESTATES GENERAL * Hoped to WEAKEN kings power and STRENGTHEN their own * Hope rested on the belief : representatives of the first and second estate would come together to be able to dominate the assembly
BUT IT WAS CHALLENEGED BY THE MIDDLE CLASS Third Estate: * Gain equal status * Demand widespread reforms * Most of their representatives were lawyers, professional men * Demonstrate their discontent with the ancient regime * Disputes over methods of voting * not met since 1614 * TRADITIONALLY- three estates had equal numbers of representatives and each state had one vote.
- NOW they realize- they would be unable to carry out reforms. the first and second estate would join together and use their two votes to defeat the one vote * Reformers made two proposals 1. The third estate should have the same number of representatives as the other two states combined -KING AGREED IN 1788 2. Each individual representative should have one vote in the Esates- general
June
Tennis court Oath * Commoners [third estate] met three days after the National assembly * King refused to allow them to meet in their usual meeting hall * Met at a nearby tennis court *
1789
May Estates General * Louis 16th faced with bankruptcy called for a meeting of the Estates General in 1788 * The actual meeting was set for May * They had the traditional right to authorize taxation * Consisted of representatives from each of the three estates * Louis hope to find new methods to RAISE MONEY and to solve the FINANCIAL CRISIS * Representatives were chosen, collect complaints complaints: * Financial reform * Reforms in the whole social system * Aims of the estates:
Nobles:
* Nobles refused to give up their tax exemption * Nobles forced the king to agree to their proposal- CALLING OF THE ESTATES GENERAL * Hoped to WEAKEN kings power and STRENGTHEN their own * Hope rested on the belief : representatives of the first and second estate would come together to be able to dominate the assembly
BUT IT WAS CHALLENEGED BY THE MIDDLE CLASS Third Estate: * Gain equal status * Demand widespread reforms * Most of their representatives were lawyers, professional men * Demonstrate their discontent with the ancient regime * Disputes over methods of voting * not met since 1614 * TRADITIONALLY- three estates had equal numbers of representatives and each state had one vote.
- NOW they realize- they would be unable to carry out reforms. the first and second estate would join together and use their two votes to defeat the one vote * Reformers made two proposals 1. The third estate should have the same number of representatives as the other two states combined -KING AGREED IN 1788 2. Each individual representative should have one vote in the Esates- general
June
Tennis court Oath * Commoners [third estate] met three days after the National assembly * King refused to allow them to meet in their usual meeting hall * Met at a nearby tennis court *