The Revolution Unleashed

* May 1, 1789 (The Estates General Convenes)

- voting by order (1 vote for each estate)

-> Nobles and Church allied in interest

=> 2% of population, yet 2 of three votes

=> had 591 representatives

=> both rich and landed, many churchmen were nobles

-> 3rd estate was bourgeoisie, "middle class", peasants and urban

workers

=> 98% of population, but only 1 of 3 votes

=> 610 representatives

-> voting by order insured the 3rd Estate would loose to combined

nobles and Church

- everyone had interests coming in to the Estates General

-> Church wants no change

-> Nobles want lots of concessions (see last lecture)

-> king wants most money at least loss of power

-> 3rd Estate confused, but catching on

=> wants vote by representative instead of by order

=> increasingly radical in their demands

* Workings of the Estates General

- farce

-> who wears hats in the presence of the king?

-> 3rd Estate shows its disrespect

- inconsequence

-> for a month, nobles and the king jokey for power

-> 3rd Estate stalls and whines for recognition

-> radical members of the Church and nobility joining the

3rd Estate

=> Lafayette and Abbe Sieyes examples of joiners

=> if voting were by representative, 3rd Estate rules

- The 3rd Estate radicalizes

-> "What is the 3rd Estate? Everything."

-> a new voice claiming to represent the nation

-> June 17, the 3rd Estate votes itself the National Assembly

=> take "The Oath of the Tennis Court"

+> vow to stand together or die

+> radicals nobles and priests join the Oath

=> votes that all taxes are null and void unless approved by

the National Assembly

+> a shot across the king's bow

-> king vacillates and threatens

=> begins to move the Swiss Guards into place