What was the role of the Estates-General?

The Estates-General had traditionally been consulted on fiscal policy and had presented the king with petitions and grievances from the estates.

What happened at the Estates-General of 1789?

The Estates-General of 1789 is considered by many historians to be the first event of the French Revolution. The meeting saw the Third Estate usurp authority from both the crown and its fellow estates, asserting the right to legislate and create a new constitution.

Estates-General of 1789

Q: What was the Estates-General and who were its members?

The Estates-General was a meeting of the three estates of pre-revolutionary France: clergy, nobility, and commons.

Definition

The Estates-General of 1789 was a meeting of the three estates of pre-revolutionary France: clergy, nobility, and commons. Summoned by King Louis XVI of France (r. 1774-1792) to deal with financial and societal crises, it ended with the Third Estate breaking from royal authority and forming a National Assembly. It is generally considered the start of the French Revolution (1789-1799).

More about: Estates-General of 1789

Timeline

22 Feb 1787 - 25 May 1787
The Assembly of Notables meets in the Palace of Versailles to discuss financial reforms. The assembly concludes an Estates-General must be convened.
5 May 1789
The Estates-General convenes in Versailles for the first time in 175 years.