The Meeting of the Estates General King Louis XVI must solve financial crisis EG a medieval representative body (last used in 1614) France divided into three ‘Estates’: Clergy (1st Estate) Nobility (2nd Estate) Commoners (3rd Estate)

Stage Two: Experiencing the Meeting of the Estates General

Experiencing the Meeting of the Estates General Stage Two: Experiencing the Meeting of the Estates General The King assembles the Estates General for advice The Three Estates prepare to meet Each Estate proposes a plan to save France The King proposes his plan to save France The Estates General votes on the King’s plan Severe famine occurs The Third Estate responds to the situation

The Tennis Court Oath In fact, 3rd Estate refused to help until King allowed them to meet in single group Forced to vote as separate orders, they declared themselves ‘National Assembly’ the TRUE representatives of France Clergy eventually vote to join 3rd Estate Excluded from meeting hall, they meet in Versailles’ tennis court pledging never to disband until new Constitution is written

The Storming of the Bastille July 1789 25% Paris unemployed, without food Rumors spread of King’s troops coming to sack Paris July 14, 1789: hundreds marched to the Bastille for gunpowder to fight back Leader fires on crowd killing 98 Outrage! Soldiers finally surrender News spreads, peasants revolt, Lords nervous… The French Revolution has officially begun! (Called Bastille Day, July 14th)

The March on Versailles Financial Crisis grows, hunger, unemployment grow too October 5, 1789: 7,000 women march to Versailles demanding bread Invade Palace and kill guards King ‘accompanied’ back to Paris Will never see Versailles again