French Revolution Talk Show: Third Estate Rebels
The Estates-General met in May 1789 with three groups: clergy, nobility, and commoners, known as the Third Estate. Although the Third Estate was the massive 'studio audience' representing 98% of France, they were consistently outvoted by the privileged few. Outraged by this rigged voting system, they rebelled and declared themselves the National Assembly.
Chapter 1
The opening monologue of 1789
Chapter 2
Breaking news and dramatic updates
Chapter 3
The ultimate elimination round
Chapter 4
The spin-off and syndication
Ch 1 · The opening monologue of 1789
avantgardo The 1789 Opening Monologue
He talked about taxes until he went hoarse, We wanted reform, now we'll change our whole course.
avantgardo Locked out of their meeting hall, the rebellious deputies swore an oath on a tennis court to write a new constitution.
Fun Fact
Royal debt: In 1789, France spent over half of its national budget just paying off debt.
avantgardo The common people of France were outvoted by the wealthy nobility and clergy, sparking an outrage that started a revolution.
Glossary
estates-general (noun)
An assembly of the different classes of subjects of a state, typically summoned to advise the sovereign. King Louis XVI opened this legislative assembly in Versailles in May 1789 to resolve France's financial crisis.
An assembly of the different classes of subjects of a state, typically summoned to advise the sovereign. King Louis XVI opened this legislative assembly in Versailles in May 1789 to resolve France's financial crisis.
BETA
avantgardo Choose your talk show guests to discover the clashing factions of the French Revolution.
Quiz
What was the name of the main land tax from which the French nobility was largely exempt?
Quiz
What percentage of the French population did the Third Estate represent in 1789?
Quiz
Where did the locked-out deputies meet to swear their famous oath on June 20, 1789?