The organization of the Estates- General Traditionally, there were roughly three equal groups of representatives Voted by order For the 1789 meeting, an alternative method was pursued by the Third Estate Pamphleteering

Questions: 1. Why was it so radical, in 1789, to state that the nation would be better off without the privileged estates? 2. Why do you think Sieyes refers to the two privileged estates as one (‘the privileged order’)? 3. According to Sieyes, which two important principles would support the triumph of the Third Estate? 4. How would this pamphlet have helped the plight of an alternative voting method for the Estates- General meeting of 1789?

Sequence of events May 5- opening of the Estates- General May 5- June 3- discussions on the voting method June 3- the Third Estate elect Jean-Sylvain Bailly as their president June 4- the heir to the throne dies June 10- the Third Estate invites the other two Estates to join it in common assembly

June members of the clergy joined the Third Estate June 17- vote in vast majority to call itself the ‘National Assembly’ June 19- the King locks the door to the assembly hall June 20- Tennis Court Oath