The meeting of the Estates-General

Answer 1

Frankly, it can't. Before the Estates General, the King (and his minister Calonne) called an Assembly of Notables to try and sort out the financial mess the country was in. The notables, however, including six out of seven royal Dukes, turned out to be more radical than anybody had expected, and to demand great strides towards the representation of the people. Most of them also demanded the calling of the Estates, which is what the King simply had to do next. Once the Estates were called, the crazy voting system was bound to cause trouble, and again many of the Second estate (the Nobles) sided with the Third and helped them form a National Assembly, which produced the first Constitution.

Answer 2

Louis XVI feared that France's government was going to be bankrupt, so he called a meeting of the Estates' General to find a solution. He had hoped they would vote to raise taxes, a simple solution. However, none of the Estates wanted this. Unfortuatly, Louis decided that the meeting would be according to the old rules, where the 3 Estates met separatly and each cast one vote, so the First and Second Estates' votes would outnumber the Third's. The Third Estate refused to meet seperatly, however, so they went outside to the tennis courts, declared themselves the national assembly of France, and swore to write a constitution! The revolution had begun!!

Answer 3

Philip IV called a meeting of the three estates, or classes, of his kingdom.This meeting supported the king and condemned the pope.

Answer 4

In King Louis XVI's Castle, Versailles south of Paris.

Answer 5

It was called into session by King Louis XVI to deal with the huge French National Debt.

Answer 6

The opening meeting of the 1789 Estates General was held on 6 May 1789. It was the first such meeting since 1614. It was doomed to fail.

Answer 7

It was abolished during the French Revolution, and replaced by the National Assembly.