Changes

The Estates-General had not met in 175 years and retain many of the former characteristics. Each Estate had one vote in the Assembly, such that the First and Second Estates could always outvote the Third Estate. That was acceptable in the early 1600s, but the Third Estate would not allow this in 1789 after learning the Enlightenment ideas. By this time the alliance between the nobility and the third estate has broken down, the nobles may have called a march, but they drew the line at burning down tax offices. The Third Estate wanted a system of one vote per delegate, which would have given the Third Estate the same number of votes as the First and Second Estate combined.  

The Estates-General had not met in 175 years and retain many of the former characteristics. Each Estate had one vote in the Assembly, such that the First and Second Estates could always outvote the Third Estate. That was acceptable in the early 1600s, but the Third Estate would not allow this in 1789 after learning the Enlightenment ideas. By this time the alliance between the nobility and the third estate has broken down, the nobles may have called a march, but they drew the line at burning down tax offices. The Third Estate wanted a system of one vote per delegate, which would have given the Third Estate the same number of votes as the First and Second Estate combined.  

The opening of the Esates-Generale did not bode well. The openingin session was in an open coach house, which meant that the Third Esate struggled to hear the proceedings as they were on wooden benches at the far end of the room. Upon the entry of the King, the first and second estates were expected to remove their hats and sit down after the King, before replacing their hats. The Third Estate were expected to remain standing until after the first and second estates had replaced their hats, however, they chose to sit at the same time as the first and second estates. The First Estate were to ear glittering robes, the second estate were to ear silk coats, whilst the third estate were required to wear black coats. There was no question at this point of rudeness towards the King himself, and at this point none of the delegates (including Robespierre) was a republican in their beliefs. There then followed a speech by Necker on possible solutions to the economic crisis, that was of such length and dullness that Necker had to pass it on to a delegate to complete.

The opening of the Esates-Generale did not bode well. The openingin session was in an open coach house, which meant that the Third Esate struggled to hear the proceedings as they were on wooden benches at the far end of the room. Upon the entry of the King, the first and second estates were expected to remove their hats and sit down after the King, before replacing their hats. The Third Estate were expected to remain standing until after the first and second estates had replaced their hats, however, they chose to sit at the same time as the first and second estates. The First Estate were to ear glittering robes, the second estate were to ear silk coats, whilst the third estate were required to wear black coats. There was no question at this point of rudeness towards the King himself, and at this point none of the delegates (including Robespierre) was a republican in their beliefs. There then followed a speech by [[Necker]] on possible solutions to the economic crisis, that was of such length and dullness that Necker had to pass it on to a delegate to complete.

The Third Estate began to win votes in the Estates-Generale by attracting poorer clergy to their side. In an attempt to reassert his control, announded on 14 June that Estates-Generale was postponed. However, new of the postponement did not reach the delegates of the Third Estate, who arrived on the 20 June to find the room locked.

The Third Estate began to win votes in the Estates-Generale by attracting poorer clergy to their side. In an attempt to reassert his control, announded on 14 June that Estates-Generale was postponed. However, new of the postponement did not reach the delegates of the Third Estate, who arrived on the 20 June to find the room locked.

The King responded by ordering the delegate to disperse, however this had little effect. The following week the King sent a messenger, the Marquis de Breze, to order the finishing of the session. Mirabeau ordered the messenger to leave.

The King responded by ordering the delegate to disperse, however this had little effect. The following week the King sent a messenger, the Marquis de Breze, to order the finishing of the session. Mirabeau ordered the messenger to leave.

Violence soon hit the streets. In the last week of June the royal Government ordered 20,000 troops to On July 14, 1789 (“[[Bastille Day]]”), French peasants stormed the large Paris prison known as Bastille, freeing the inmates. The Great Fear or panic resulted, as riots occurred and peasants proceeded to burn wealthy homes. [[Louis XVI]] and his wife, [[Marie Antoinette]], were forced from their home in Versailles by a riot of women over the high price of bread. Supposedly the snobby Antoinette responded unsympathetically to the lack of bread for the peasants by declaring, “Let them eat cake!” Historians doubt she ever actually said that.

In the last week of June the royal Government ordered 20,000 troops to march on Paris. It became apparent that compromise was not. This was emphaisized with the replacement of Necker by the hard line [[Baron de Breteuil]]. Thousands took to the street to demand the reinstatement of [[Necker]], possibly one of the most boring men in history to have ever prompted such a reaction. Mirabeau spoke to teh assembly, invoking the oath taken at the tennis court. [[Camille Desmoulins]] had ridden ot Versailles to report on events and galloped back to Paris to report on the relacement of Necker.

 

 

 

 

With the militia formed to repel the royal troops, there was an urgent need for weapons. The royalist [[Swiss Guard]]s had stored 30,000 pounds to the Bastille, to be used against the National Assembly. On the morning of July 14, 1789 (“[[Bastille Day]]”), a crowd of about a thousand people made up predominantely of small tradesmenarrived at the prison to demand the gun powder be handed over. The prison Governor invited a delegation in for breakfast, which procedded for three and a half hours. Meanwhile, rumours cicrulated that royalist troops were commiting atrocities across Paris.

 

A demonstrator outside the Bastille realized he would be able to get to the chains of the drawbridge by climbing from a nearby perfume shop. At this point the prison Governor, De Launay, broke off negotiations and late in the afternoon cannon shots were aimed at the crowd. Two companies of French Guards were persuaded to the Bastille to the defend protesters being killed by cannon fire.

 

The [[Great Fear]] or panic resulted, as riots occurred and peasants proceeded to burn wealthy homes. [[Louis XVI]] and his wife, [[Marie Antoinette]], were forced from their home in Versailles by a riot of women over the high price of bread. Supposedly the snobby Antoinette responded unsympathetically to the lack of bread for the peasants by declaring, “Let them eat cake!” Historians doubt she ever actually said that.

By then the French Revolution was in full swing.  

By then the French Revolution was in full swing.