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What is the Third Estate? The Third Estate is the nation. The Third Estate consists of 98 % of the population of France and essentially under King Louis has supported the entire country. The problem is that was France, aiding the American revolution in only to humiliate the English went bankrupt. King Louis had been a selfish, wasteful and inefficient ruler.
When employment hit its all time low he considered strategies, when he called on the Assembly of Notables and when the two Upper Estates rejected tax raises King Louis called the Estates General, who was last called on in 1614. At first the Estates General looked to hold some promise for the middle class. The Bourgeoisie were successful in increasing the representation of the Third Estate from 300 to 600 reps however they were refused the change to individual voting from voting per bloc. In this system it was unfair because the first two blocs would vote against the Third Estate.
This system however would guarantee King Louis of political control of the country. The old system of voting would keep the voting in his favor. In an effort to increase his general impression with the Third Estate he asked the people for grievances, with all intentions to be disregarded. In overall effect the meeting of the Estates General proved to be useless to the Bourgeoisie cause. Since the Bourgeoisie hoped the calling of the Estates General would bring out things such as more rights to the Third Estate something had to be done. The middle class got together and announced a single meeting place for all estates where they would vote by head, they called it the National Assembly.
They invited all members of the other Estates to join but only a few liberal clergy and nobles joined. Louis ordered the separate Estates to meet behind closed doors. The Bourgeoisie found themselves locked out of their room. This was another of the blatant display of the Kings attitude towards the taxpayers of France who had carried the financial burden on their backs, so the angry and confused mob made their way to a nearby Tennis Court.
Their spirits were uplifted by a rousing speech made by on the merchants who said "for many years the people of France have been oppressed of their rights, and it is now time to break the chain bound to our ankles." This speech was empowering to the crowd it was what they needed pledge not to disband until the National Assembly had created a constitution and is known as the "Tennis Court Oath." The middle class finally took a stand against the government that rules them, Louis has lost some of his power and control over the people. He first appeared to be in full support of the National Assembly but that too was false. Later Louis called a regiment of 18, 000 German and Swiss troops who flooded the streets of Paris, people started to talk. Why would France need such a heavy military presence? The question begs to be answered. In the winter of 1789 the grain crop poor, the price of bread high, enough to provoke some riots.
The people of France marched through the streets of Paris and stormed the greatest symbol of the Old Regime the Bastille. With the Bastille under the peoples control the French Revolution started. Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on People Of France King Louis
