Estates General
The Estates General, also known as the General Estates, was a representative assembly of the three estates of France: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. It was convened by the French monarchy to discuss and address issues of national importance, such as taxation and political reforms.
The Estates General trace their origins back to medieval times, when the king would call upon representatives from each estate to provide counsel and consent on matters of governance and policies. However, the assembly had only been summoned sporadically throughout history, as the French monarchy often preferred to govern without their input.
In 1789, the Estates General was called by King Louis XVI in response to the financial crisis and widespread discontent in the country. This was a significant event that eventually led to the French Revolution.
Each estate had a different number of representatives and voting power. The First Estate consisted of the clergy and held 300 representatives, the Second Estate consisted of the nobility and also held 300 representatives, and the Third Estate consisted of the commoners and held 600 representatives. Despite having the largest population, the Third Estate was disadvantaged by the traditional voting system, which allowed each estate to hold only one vote.
The Third Estate, comprising mainly of the bourgeoisie and peasants, demanded a fairer representation and voting system that would reflect their larger population and give them a greater say in the affairs of the country. When their demands were not met, they declared themselves the National Assembly and eventually stormed the Bastille on July 14, 1789, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.
The Estates General would meet intermittently throughout the French Revolution, as different political factions rose to power and dissolved the assembly multiple times. Ultimately, the French Revolution led to the end of the French monarchy and the establishment of the First French Republic. The Estates General, as an institution, ceased to exist after the revolution.