---
title: What is the Third Estate?
author: Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16277/what-is-the-third-estate/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2022-08-19
---
# What is the Third Estate?
_Authored by Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/16277.jpg)
## Image Caption
*What is the Third Estate?* was a seminal pamphlet written by Abbé Emmanuel-Joseph Sièyes (1748-1836) in the months preceding the [Estates-General of 1789](https://www.worldhistory.org/Estates-General_of_1789/). The pamphlet argues that the Third Estate (commoners) constitutes an entire nation itself, and the upper estates (clergy and nobility) are nothing more than dead weight.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Sieyes, E. (2022, August 19). What is the Third Estate?. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Sieyes, Emmanuel-Joseph. "What is the Third Estate?." *World History Encyclopedia*, August 19, 2022. .
### MLA
Sieyes, Emmanuel-Joseph. "What is the Third Estate?." *World History Encyclopedia*, 19 Aug 2022, .
## License & Copyright
[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qu%27est_ce_que_le_Tiers_Etat.jpg) by [**Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qu%27est_ce_que_le_Tiers_Etat.jpg). Submitted by [Harrison W. Mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/harrisonwmark/ "User Page: Harrison W. Mark"), published on 19 August 2022. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.