The Estates General

1. By: Mike McCloskey The Estates General Property of Mikemccloskey96productions®

2. Role in Government • The Estates General voted for change in government • The first, second and third estates would all vote for different decisions in changing the government. • The first and second estates would combine their votes to overpower the vote of the third estate in order to prevent any chance of reform.

3. Role in Government (con.) • The first estate represented 130,000 members of the Catholic clergy • The second estate represented 400,000 members of the Nobility. • The third estate represented different classes of people, mostly middle class or poor people. • Even though the third estate made up 97% of the Estates General, the first and second estates were still able to overpower the third estate’s votes.

4. Grievances Prepared by the Three Estates • There were clubs of third estate people that helped spread a demand for third estate’s rights. • The third estate demanded complete equality to the first and second estates before the law. • They wanted as many representatives as the first and second estates combined in order to “make something of themselves”.

5. Grievances (con.) • The first estate did not want its top position and privileges to be yielded. • There was a possibility that the second estate would accept equal taxation, however, it refused to give up any of its other privileges. • The first and second estates were backed from several rights and privileges by King Louis XVI. • The two estates did not at all approve of this act by the king.

6. Grievances (con.) • The third estate wanted a complete new constitution that would give them some real power and equality to the first and second estates.