THE ESTATESGENERAL MEETING OF 5th MAY 1789.
The
estates general meeting of5^^ May 1789 comprised of 621 representatives
of the third estate, 308 clergy and 285 nobles. Louis xvi and his poor
advisors thought that each estate representative would present a list of
grievances (cashiers) and offer some advice which would help in solving
financial crisis and other problems that France was facing. The
cashiers expressed loyalty and fidelity (faith) to the king; most of
them reflected the radical philosophy of the age and demanded for
reforms in the government and society. Many of the cashiers demanded for
the abolition of social inequalities in the society. The mood of the
third estate was expressed in a pamphlet written by Abbey Sieyes which
was circulated in large numbers on the eve of the French revolution
What is the third estate? , Asked Sieyes, Everything'
What has it been in politics up to now?
Nothing
What does it desire?
To become something.
Louis
xvi expected separate deliberations from each estate than a joint
assembly, of the clergy, nobles and third estates representatives. He
thus insisted on the ancient system of sitting and voting where each
estate would sit and vote as one house. By this procedure, the
privileged estates (clergy and Nobles) would always out vote the third
estate by a ratio of1:2 (one vote for the third estate, and two votes
for the first and second). This was because the 1st and 2nd estates
were the privileged class and had similar interest of defending their
privileges.
The third, .estate objected to this
arrangement and wanted a single assembly of the three ,classes where
deliberations and voting would be on the principle of one man one vote
(show of hands). They were aware that a joint assembly would offer them
opportunities for reforms since they had twice as many representatives
as the clergy and the nobles combined.
However, the
privileged class rejected the demands of the third estate and
influenced Louis, xvi to rule against it under the guidance of Mira
beau, the third estate refused to accept the ruling. There, were a
number of deliberations and on 17th June 1789 the third estate declared
itself the national assembly. They were strengthened when dissatisfied
nobles and clergy joined the assembly.
1. The
significance of this event in the course of the French revolution is
that it was the beginning of the revival of the parliament and
parliamentary democracy in France. For about 175 years, the estates
general had never sat and the 5'^ May 1789 assembly resurrected it. From
1789 onwards, the estates general met continuously and enacted a number
of reforms in France.
2. This event triggered off
the revolution. The self-conversion of the 3rd estate into the national
assembly marked the beginning of the French revolution. They had taken
up the responsibility of acting on behalf of the whole nation. This
weakened the position of the Bourbon monarchy and Louis xvi over state
affairs.
3. The meeting gave the third estate the
chance to begin fighting for their rights. Had it not been because of
the hectic disagreement over the sitting arrangement, the third estate
would have found it difficult if not impossible to start the revolution
in 1789. This is so because they used the disagreement over the sitting
order as an excuse to revolt against King Louis xvi and the monarchy.
4.
it's also of significance that the national assembly is known as the
constituent assembly because it's main responsibility was to make a
constitution. It was the beginning of constitutional system of
governance in France. The constitution later became the guarantor of
people's freedom and rights.
5. It portrayed the
unity that existed amongst the third estate and disunity within the
privileged class. The unity of the third estate was evidenced in the
tennis court oath and disunity of the privileged class was witnessed
when the lesser nobles and lower clergy joined the 3rd estate against
the monarchy.
6. The event exposed the king's
inconsistencies and weaknesses. His failure to settle the sitting
arrangement and his order to the privileged class to join the assembly
is a testimony of his wavering character.
However,
the higher clergy and the greater nobility refused to join the national
assembly. This undermined the nationalistic outlook which the assembly
was to portray.
Attachments
No attachments
No comments:
Post a Comment