The revolution, May-June 1789: developments in Versailles

The opening of the Estates-General, 5 May 1789:

At the time of the elections the three orders were asked to draw up a list of grievances and suggestions for reform - the cahiers.

• The First Estate was dominated by parish priests. They wanted higher stipends, access to the higher offices of the Church, greater Church control of education and a limit on toleration of Protestantism
• The Second Estate was dominated by deputies from long-standing noble families who held conservative views. About a third were liberals who were willing to give up their financial privileges. They were divided over Third Estate demands for tax reforms and a modern constitution
• The Third Estate deputies were lawyers, landowners and office holders plus a few nobles and clergy. The electoral system excluded workers and peasants

All three estates wanted a king whose powers were limited by an elected assembly which had the power to raise tax and pass laws. When they met at Versailles, Louis failed to put forward a programme of action for discussion. There was no mention of a new consitution, just unspecified talk of fairer taxation. The deputies of the Third Estate seized…