1. The meeting of the Estates General in 1789 complicated the political crisis in France by changing the nature of political debate. Members of the Third Estate realized they were fighting against all three estates, not just the monarchy. 2. Sieyes proposed that the Third Estate declare itself the National Assembly, representing all of France. On June 17th, 1789, the Third Estate took this revolutionary step, claiming sovereignty over taxation and governance. 3. Support steadily grew for the National Assembly, with most clergy joining by June 19th. However, Louis XVI then attempted to assert royal authority by scheduling a Royal Session on June 23rd and locking the meeting hall of the Third Estate.

2.  April –May 1775 Flour War as a result ofTurgot's’ reforms
 January 1789 Sieyes publishes ‘What is theThird Estate?
 23 April 1789 Revellion Riots
 January- April 1789 – Increasing unrest in rural areas due
to harvest failure of 1788
 4 May Opening of the Estates General
 4 June Sieyes proposes to the Commons that it asks the
privileged estates to join them or forfeit their rights as
representatives of the nation
 10 JuneThird Estate begins to verify the deputies
credentials even if the other two orders do not join in.
 13 14 and 15 June – More priests join theThird Estate

3.  17 JuneTheThird Estate proclaim themselves
the NationalAssembly
 19 June all clergy join theThird Estate in the
new NationalAssembly
 20 JuneTennis Court Oath / Louis decided to
hold a séance royal (Royal Session) on 23 June
 22 June First noble deputes join the National
Assembly

4.  23 June Royal Session held
 25 June 47 liberal nobles, including the King’s
cousin the Duc Orleans join the National
Assembly
 27 June National Assembly now numbers 830.
Louis orders all remaining clergy and nobility to
join the Assembly
 1 July Louis assembles 20 000 troops around
Paris
 11 July 30 000 troops now surround Paris
 11 July Louis dismisses Necker.
 12 July Camille Desmoulins calls citizens to arms
in the gardens 0f the Palace Royal

5.  14 July the Pars crowd storm the arsenal, Les
Invalides and take 28 000 muskets and 20
cannons
 14 JulyThe crowd storms the Bastille for
gunpowder
 15 July Paris electors form the Paris Commune
(municipal government). Paris electors form the
NationalGuard
 15 July Louis visits NationalAssembly
 17 July Louis visits Paris, recognises the legality of
the Paris Commune – constitutional monarchy is
born
 20 July 1789 – Increasing unrest in the countryside
– the Great Fear spreads

6.  4 August Night of Patriotic Delirium.
 11 August Decrees issued
 26 August Declaration of the Rights of Man
and Citizen

7.  Sieyes pamphlet – lashed out at the privileged
classes and questioned how genuine they were
at reform.
 Claimed theThird Estate was so important
numerically and economically itWAS the nation.
 Changed self perception – Until Sieyes’ tract, the
Third Estate had usually been defined negatively
because they ere not noble or privileged. Now
the privileged orders were defined negatively
because they served no useful social purpose –
beginnings of a self confident bourgeois and san
culottes culture.

9.  How much did popular discontent direct the flow of the
Revolution?
 Was the Revolution bourgeois in nature or stemming from
the desires and aspirations of the commin people?
 Was the Revolution one of class conflict? I.e. rich against
poor? Bourgeoise vs aristocracy?
 How do the actions of the common people (menu people)
shape the direction of the Revolution?
 Who gained from the Revolution? How revolutionary was
the revolution?

10.  In April 1789 a mass riots
occurred against the
wallpaper manufacturer,
Revellion.
 This was an event which
terrified the bourgeoisie
– as they clearly saw the
anger and the power of
the Paris crowd when it
was incensed – the
beginning of class
conflict.

11.  Revellion was a victim of crowd anger, he had
commented that bread prices should be lowered
so workers could afford food.
 In the tense and desperate atmosphere (bread
prices climbing to 88% of daily income) it was
misinterpreted that Revellion said wages should
be brought down.
 Angry crowds destroyed his house and factory.

12.  Interesting as they are an early revolutionary
journee and what they suggest about fault
lines drawing across French society – the
poorer labouring and peasant classes against
the bourgeoisie.
 Rioters screamed “Down with the rich”, ‘Long
live the Estates General’ and ‘Long live
Necker’ as Revellion’s house was destoryed.
 The riots are clearly motivated by economic
concerns and stress.

13.  Significance – the urban poor discover their
power / the bourgeoisie begin to fear the power
of the Paris mob and seek to contain it
 Comes into significance on 15 July 1789 when
the Paris electors – the bourgeoisie form a
militia of their own – to defend the rights and
property of the middle classes against the mob.

14.  The calling of the Estates Genera was seen as the solution to the
nation’s financial crisis, yet its meeting only complicated the
political crisis.
 The meeting of the Estates General changed the nature of political
debate in France and aspirations for reform. Before the focus of
resentment had been against the absolutist powers of the
monarchy and calls for reform envisaged royal power limited by a
parliamentary body.
 However the defence of voting by order by the Paris Parlements
and 61% of noble cahiers supporting voting by order, revealed
hidden resentments against the first two orders. Members of the
Third Estate now realized they were no longer fighting with one
enemy, but three.

15.  An advisory body called by the monarch in a
time of crisis.
 Role was the advise and support the King
 Last time meet was 1614 or 175 years
previously
 Louis was forced to call the Estates General
when the French state became bankrupt in
August 1788.

16.  1.The writing of the
cahiers crystalized
grievances in France
and raised general
expectations of
reform.
 Peter McPhee – the
cahiers ‘electrified the
countryside’
A drawing showing theThree
Estates on their way to the Estates
General

17.  https://www.coursera.org/learn/french-
revolution/lecture/ihjSO/2-4-the-third-
estate-in-revolt-the-peasantry

18.  https://www.coursera.org/learn/french-
revolution/lecture/C8x4C/2-3-the-third-
estate-in-revolt-bourgeoisie-and-menu-
people
 (0.00 -7.35)

19.  “When I found myself in the middle of the district assembly, I felt that I breathed a
new air. It was a marvel to be something in the political system, and that merely by
virtue of being a citizen, or rather a burgess of Paris, for at that time we were still
burgesses, not citizens.
 The men who for years had been meeting in the clubs used to discuss public affairs
in them, but only as topics of conversation.They had no rights, no influence
whatever. Here we had the right to elect, we had at least, as in Estates General of
former times, the right to make requests and to draw up lists of grievances (cahiers).
 Here, we had an influence — distant, certainly, but obtained for the first time in
more than a century and a half. And this privilege had been won by an enlightened
generation who understood its value and would be able to extend its advantages.
 This assembly, such a tiny part of the nation, was nevertheless conscious of the
rights and the strength of the whole. It realised that these rights and this strength
lent it a kind of authority, one that may reside in the wills of individuals who are
destined to form the general will.”

20.  2.Transformed the
struggle into one
against the whole
structure of the ancien
regime, not just royal
absolutism.
 3.The enforcement of
social differences at
Versailles in May 1789.

22.  ‘The more brilliantly the first two orders
swaggered, the more they alienated the third
estate and provoked it into exploding the
institution altogether’

23.  Louis failed to set an agenda for reform and
what was to be discussed.
 Sole directive was that finances were to be
put in order and stabilized.
 In the lack of any directions from Louis and
the failure to resolve the question of voting
by order or estate, the Estates General
became paralysed.

24.  TheThird Estate deputies, in accordance with
the whole assembly to meet as one, not by
order, insisted on the practice of verifying the
credentials of deputies together.
 Is might seem trivial but the process of
verification separately or as a whole body was
seen as a precedent as to how the Estates
General would meet when discussing other
matters.

25.  Until this dispute was resolved, theThird
Estate deputies refused to begin the process
of verification.
 The result as a stale mate for 3 weeks.The
Third Estate deputes meet and debated but
would not accept their separate states,
organise themselves or begin to discuss
reform.

26.  To resolute dead lock Sieyes proposed a
solution.
 He and otherThird Estate deputies knew that
more than half the clergy and at least 90 liberal
nobles were sympathetic to theThird Estate and
a vote by head.
 However there was a hard core element of the
privileged orders who still insisted on meeting
by estate.

27.  Sieyes urged his fellow deputes to ‘cut the cable’ which
tied them to the ancien regime and gave the privileged
orders any relevance.
 Sieyes proposed to the Commons it should summons the
privileged states to either join them or forfeit their rights as
representatives of the nation.This was a revolutionary move
because Sieyes was not asking deputes to join theThird
Estate but to recognise themselves as the representatives of
the French nation – a complimentary but rival power to the
monarchy. Louis’ power had not only been challenged but
rejected by a group which saw themselves a reporting a
different authority – the people. (P. 77 text)

29.  The Commons began this process of
verification, attracting a steady dribble of
sympathetic priests.
 On the 17th June, the Commons declare
themselves the NationalAssembly, claiming
to that as it represented most of the enation,
it had the right to manage its affairs and
decide taxation.

30.  Once again at Sieyes’ urging the Commons to
act and calls itself the NationalAssembly.
 Historians views –
 ‘It was the founding act of the French
Revolution. If the Nation was sovereign, the
King no longer was.’ Doyle
 ‘Marked the transfer of sovereignty from King
to Nation’ Adcock.

31.  Two days later the clergy vote to joking the
NationalAssembly.

32.  On the 20th June the hall where theThird estate
(now the National Assembly) had been meeting
was found locked. Placards announced that a
séance royal (Royal Session) would take place on
the 23rd .The hall was guarded by royal troops.
 The presence of the royal troops frightens the
deputies of the National Assembly - they feared
the King was preparing to use armed force
against them and they take their meeting to a
nearby tennis court.

34.  Here under the leadership of men like Sieyes,
Bailly and Mirabeau they take theTennis Court
Oath, swearing to remain in place until France
had a constitution.
 ‘Nothing can prevent the assembly from
continuing its discussion wherever it may be
forced to meet. All members of the assembly shall
here and now take solemn oath never to abandon
the assembly and to go on meeting wherever it is
until the constitution of hr realm is set up’.

36.  https://commons.trincoll.edu/guiltypleasures
/2014/10/06/pre-raphaelite-elements-in-lady-
audleys-portrait/
 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/egg-past-
and-present-no-1-n03278

38.  To restore a measure of royal authority,
Necker advised the King to hold a séance
royal.
 Louis had three options.
 1 – Necker advised Louis to adopt a
conciliatory approach – ignore the events of
10-17 June and accept voting in common.

39.  2 – Dismiss the NationalAssembly, by force if
necessary – this is what Marie Antoinette and
Louis’ brothers, the Comte d’Artois and
Comte d’Proevance advised.
 3 –Tell the deputies what he would and would
not accept.

40.  Louis chose the third option. June had been a
difficult month for Louis personally (the Dauphin
died) and faced with the opposing arguments of
Artois and Necker he tried to steer a middle
course.
 When the séance royal met Louis told the
deputies that the National Assembly was null
and void, that seignorialism was to be
untouched and that the estates were to contine
meeting in their separate orders.

41.  He did compromise on –
 Recognise that the representatives of the nation
needed to be consulted (via the Estates General)
on new taxes
 Letters de cachet would be abolished
 Freedom of the press
 Internal customs such as the Gabelle would be
abolished
 If these reforms had been put through in May, it
is highly likely that the deputes would have
accepted.

42.  The King ended by ordering the deputes to
return to their respective meeting places.
 Mirabeau's reply –When the King’s Master of
ceremonies told theThird Estate to disperse
leave, Mirabeau famously replied that they
wold only leave ‘at the point of bayonets’ and
Bailly said, ‘The nation assembled, does not
take orders’.

43.  47 nobles, including the Duc d'Orléans joined
the NationalAssembly.
 On the 27th June, Louis gave way – ‘Ah damn
it...Let them stay’ and ordered them to gather
together and vote by head.

44.  In the last week of June, Louis took action
and moved troops into the Paris/Versailles
order.
 4000 French Guards – the elite of theArmy –
who Louis believed to be absolutely loyal.
 Louis also began assembling large numbers
of foreign troops (Swiss and German
mercenaries) rather than French troops.

45.  1 July 20,000 troops surround Paris
 11 July 30,000 troops surround Paris
 Louis and his ministers appeared to be
contemplating using force to disperse the
NationalAssembly. In this situation, the
Assembly was saved by the violent actions of
the Paris crowd.

46.  Mirabeau – ‘A large number of troops already
surround us. More are arriving each
day….These preparations for war are obvious
to everyone and fill every heart with
indignation’.

47.  By July 1789 the situation in Paris was highly
charged.
 Peak bread price on July 14(88% of daily
wages)
 Large amounts of the unemployed ensured
that the ‘menu people’ (common people)
were ready and willing to take to the streets
at the slightest provocation.

48.  https://www.coursera.org/learn/french-
revolution/lecture/C8x4C/2-3-the-third-
estate-in-revolt-bourgeoisie-and-menu-
people
 (7.35 - )

49.  The home of the Duc d'Orléans was the Palace
Royal. It’s central location made it a popular
venue.
 The Duc d'Orléans opened his gardens up to
radical speakers, who were free to critise the
King and ancien regime, free from police
harassment and arrest, as police wee not
allowed to enter a royal property.
 (The Duc d'Orléans also funded radical anti-
monarchical pamphlets and writers – including
Camille Desmoulins)

50.  Each night thousands
of Parians gathered to
listen to revolutionary
speakers such as
Camille Desmoulins.

51.  With 30,000 troops near the capital, Louis felt
strong enough to dismiss Necker.
 Necker had lost Louis’ confidence due to –
the failure of the Estates General and was
seen as too conciliatory to theThird Estate.
Louis’ dismissal of Necker was widely seen as
a sign that Louis wished to contine to rule
absolute.

52.  Necker’s reputation was widely overrated in his
life time but he was a popular minster with the
Paris crowd for –
 His sympathy with the aspirations of theThird
Estate
 His repeal ofTurgot's’ unpopular grain
liberalisation policies which has led to price rises
due to speculation and his support for subsided
grain
 A belief in Necker’s financial capabilities

53.  When news of Necker’s
dismissal reached Paris on July
12th it inflamed an already tense
situation.
 In the gardens of the Palais
Royal, Desmoulins jumped to a
table and urged Parisians ‘to
arms and take up cockades so
we may know each other’.
 The customs posts around the
city were destroyed (42 of 50)
and there were clashes with the
foreign troops in theTuileries
palace.

54.  On the 12-13 July people begin breaking into
gun shops and swordsmiths to arm
themselves.
 Order broke down as the Guards Francoise
begin to listen to the speakers and refuse to
follow orders, telling the crowd, ‘We too are
citizens’.

55.  The militant action alarmed the wealthier
citizens of Paris.
 The pas electors held an emergency meeting in
theTown Hall and set up the Paris Commune to
run the city and a National Guard (citizens
militia) to defend it.
 The National Guards’ purpose was to defend the
property from attacks from the poor and protect
the city from the King.
 Lafayette was appointed the first commander of
the National Guard and Bailly, the Major of Paris.

56.  Using three or four points, explain how
demands for the calling of the Estates
General contributed to the development of
the Revolution in France from 1787 up to and
including 4 August 1789. Provide evidence to
support your answer.

57.  Question 1 asked about the ‘demands for the calling of the Estates
General’.The highest-scoring students noted the term ‘demands’
and focused on the refusal of the Notables to agree to Calonne’s
reforms in 1787 and the Parlement of Paris in 1788, and their demand
that only the nation could agree to reforms.Thus the King was
shown to be weak when he was forced to agree and that it was a
defiance of the King.These students then went on to present
detailed information, including raised hopes through the Cahiers de
Doléances, the debate over voting by head, the verification of
credentials, the declaration of a National Assembly 17 June 1789, the
Tennis Court Oath of 20 June, the Royal Session of 23 June, the
capitulation of the King and the renunciation of feudal dues on 4
August 1789. Low-scoring answers focused on the Estates General,
the failure of the Estates General to address reform and the
renunciation of privileges on 4 August 1789

58.  Using three or four points, explain how the
locked doors of the Assembly meeting hall on
20 June 1789 contributed to a revolutionary
situation up to and including 4 August 1789.
Provide evidence to support your answer

59.  Question 2 concerned how the locked doors of the Assembly meeting hall on 20 June
1789 contributed to a revolutionary situation, and many answers showed an
impressive knowledge of the chronology following this event up to 4 August. High-
scoring answers demonstrated excellent knowledge by referring to the build-up of
anger when the King announced a Royal Session, and theThird Estate, already
frustrated by the deference shown to the First and Second Estate in verifying
credentials, in defiance of the King, went to a tennis court and swore an oath
(Tennis Court Oath, 20 June 1789) not to disband until they had a constitution.
Answers then showed excellent knowledge of the chronology of the revolutionary
situation, mentioning the fear and anger caused by the number of troops that were
moved to Paris, 20 000 by 1 July and 30 000 by 11 July 1789.They then explained the
ensuing fear and panic that the King intended to crush the National Assembly, the
dismissal of Necker, the role of Camille Desmoulins in inciting the crowd, the attack
on the Bastille on 14July, the formation of the NationalGuard, the Great Fear and
the revolutionary situation that was created which led to the 4 August Decrees.The
answer below scored in the lower end of the top range.While this answer contains
some flaws in expression that contradict intended meaning, it is focused on the
development of the Revolution. It contains relevant and accurate examples and
makes excellent links between Enlightenment ideas and actions, and events along
the path to revolution.The knowledge shows precision and detail by the dates given
in brackets.The examples extend to 4 August 1789.

60.  Using three or four points, explain how by 20
June 1789 the frustration and anger of the
Third Estate deputies contributed to a
revolutionary situation in France in 1789.
Provide evidence to support your answer. 10
marks

61.  Question 2 was poorly answered by many
students because they wrote about theThird
Estate rather than ‘Third Estate deputies’ as in the
question.This again emphasised the requirement
to focus on the question carefully. However, most
students did refer to the process of the
‘development of the Revolution’ for this question
and knew basic facts such as the question of
voting by head or order and the locking of the
doors to the meeting hall.

62.  Using three or four points, explain how the
movement of troops to Paris from 22 June to
1 July 1789 contributed to a revolutionary
situation up to and including 4 August 1789.
Provide evidence to support your answer

63.  Question 2 asked how the movement of troops
contributed to a ‘revolutionary situation’.The
highest-scoring answers demonstrated excellent
knowledge by stating the number of troops that
were moved to Paris – 20 000 by 1 July and 30 000
by 11July 1789.They then explained the ensuing
fear and panic that the King intended to crush the
National Assembly, the dismissal of Necker, the
role of Camille Desmoulins in inciting the crowd,
the attack on the Bastille on 14July, the formation
of the National Guard, the Great Fear and the 4
August Decrees.