When Philip IV of France needed help in his struggle with the pope in 1302,
he called together representatives of the nobles, of the clergy, and of the townspeople of France the three
estates, or classes in order to gain their aid. Although there had been meetings of similar groups in the
preceding ten years, this date may be taken as the first meeting of the Estates-General of France. In the
beginning it corresponded roughly to the Parliament of England, which was then less than 50 years old.
The French monarchy was more firmly fixed in power by the unfailing succession of the Capetian line,
and the Estates-General never gained the right to make laws as the English Parliament did. During the
Hundred Years' War, from 1337 to 1453, the Estates-General could frequently force the king to do as it
wished by refusing him money to carry on the struggle, but it sometimes lost public respect by favoring
civil strife or by allying itself with the English invaders. In 1439, near the close of the war, it granted a land
tax, the taille, from which the nobles were exempted. Since there was no opposition when the king chose to
consider such grants to be permanent, the king became independent. He had plenty of revenue, he had a
standing army, he dominated the clergy and dispensed favors to the nobles, and so had little need of the
Estates-General.
For 174 years, beginning in 1614, the representatives of the three estates were not summoned to consider
the affairs of the kingdom. In 1788, however, the treasury was empty, and Louis XVI was forced to call this
almost forgotten body together again. When it met on May 5, 1789, the representatives of the third estate,
equal in numbers to the other two, refused to vote according to the old method by which each estate cast
one vote. They insisted on voting as individuals and declared themselves the National Assembly. On June
20, 1789, they took the famous "Tennis Court" oath not to disperse until they had given France a
constitution. This bold attitude showed clearly that a revolution was at hand (see French Revolution).
The name estates-general was not uncommon in medieval Europe. In Spain there were four estates, or
classes, in the assembly. In The Netherlands the name States-General is still applied to the legislative body
of that kingdom. It is composed of two houses the upper, elected by the provincial assemblies, and the
lower, chosen by the people.
Excerpted from Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia (1996). Compton's New
Media.
http://www2.fultonschools.org/teacher/bell/French%20History%20Reading/estates.pdf
King Phillip created the Estates General.
The estates general had 3 estates, commoners, clergy, and nobility. Parliament had 2, commoners and nobility. More important, the estates general had given the king the ability to levy taxes. Parliament never gave the king that authority. As a result the British Parliament met constantly because the king always needed money. The estates general stopped meeting after it gave the king the power to levy taxes. When things became a total mess and the laws needed to be changed, then King Louis xvi had to call a meeting of the Estates General. At that point things got out of hand and the French Revolution started.
The Estates General met on May 5th, 1789, in Versailles, France.
August 1788
The purpose of estates-general was to approve new taxes. However, the King did not consent and began reforming tax. But, in 1788, the Estate-general was called after 175 years.
King Phillip created the Estates General.
Kings were afraid that the nobles would be able to overthrow the king, if they were given the power of an Estates General.
The estates general had 3 estates, commoners, clergy, and nobility. Parliament had 2, commoners and nobility. More important, the estates general had given the king the ability to levy taxes. Parliament never gave the king that authority. As a result the British Parliament met constantly because the king always needed money. The estates general stopped meeting after it gave the king the power to levy taxes. When things became a total mess and the laws needed to be changed, then King Louis xvi had to call a meeting of the Estates General. At that point things got out of hand and the French Revolution started.
King Louis XVI.
The Estates General met on May 5th, 1789, in Versailles, France.
This was King Louis XVI.
King Louis XVI of France
August 1788
The Estates General had existed for centuries, while the National Assembly was formed in 1789. - Apex
The purpose of estates-general was to approve new taxes. However, the King did not consent and began reforming tax. But, in 1788, the Estate-general was called after 175 years.
Because he could. He was king and he could do whatever he wanted to.
King Louis was bound to the Ancient Regime which had three Estates within the Estates General. The First Estate was the Catholic Clergy, the Second Estate was the Nobles and the Third Estate was everyone else.