Allie+Davis

Estates General

The estates general was the assembly of three estates before the Revolution. These estates were; the clergy, the nobility, and an estate that represented the people in the society. The first Estates General assembled in April, 1302. They came together at that time to help Philip IV the Fair against the Pope. After that time, there were more Estates Generals called to obtain help politically and financially; although by the 100 year war, it was said that the assembly of the Estates was to unyeilding to be the main source of support. Although the Estates-General was a good meeting and help to the ruling of France, it was not, however, a big enough help to become an institution. The kings had set taxes, so they could pretty much get along with the esates in relative terms now. The Estates-General helped King Louis XIII in the year of 1614. The Estates-General was also called for the last time in 1789, right before the French Revolution. In this case, the people/represenatives of the third estate feared that they would be overruled by the other two estates in their fight against finances, agitation, hunger, and a weak king. So the members of the third estate formed the National Assembly on June 17, in an attempt to reform. This showed the end of representation according to the original social classes.