[mitchel k]

What did king louis xvi think of the third estate?

[CptJaneway]

He didn't think much of them at all. The 3rd estate made up over 90% of the French population, paid the majority of the taxes, had little rights, and no political voice. The French monarchy (Louis and Marie) were busy with lavish parties at court and spending the nation into deep debt, borrowing money. The estates general were called by Louie (1st time in 150 years), and the 3rd estate split off because vote-by-order meant they had no power - they got some liberal clergy and nobles to join them and created the national assembly. The new group took the tennis court oath and began writing the first of three constitutions. Along comes the Jacobins, the Directory, and the committee for public safety (Robespierre and the guillotine) and they had themselves a revolution.