Question

Which of the following was NOT a part of the Estates-General?

Answer 1

The King was not part of the Estates General.  It was composed of  the nobility (First Estate), clergy (Second Estate) and commoners (Third Estates).  In 1789, King Louis XVI summoned them to solve the country’s financial deterioration.  Usually the first two estates outvoted the third whenever they voted on a certain issue.  This time, however, the Third Estate was represented Count Mirabeau and the priest Abbe Sieyes who brought the grievances of the people to the assembly.  Discussions dragged on with no solution in sight.  The Third Estate announced that it was now the new National Assembly who would make laws for the country.  When they were prevented entering the session hall, they assembled at a tennis court  and vowed to create a new constitution and this was called the “Tennis Court Oath”. Seeing the growing strength of the Third Estate, the King gave in to their demands and instructed the nobles and clergy to join them.