The Undemocratic Features of the Estates-General

    In 1614, the Estates-General met in three separately elected chambers representing the first estate, second estate, and third estate. Numerically, the three estates were almost equal. In addition, they voted by estate (each estate had one vote). The implications, if this precedent were followed in 1789, were obvious. The nobility and clergy would be enormously over-represented. Together they would always be able to outvote the third estate.

Doubling of the Third

    There were many in France who called for a "doubling of the third" and a vote by head (each delegate would have one vote). The king authorized that the third estate be doubled, but the Parlement of Paris, dominated by nobles, opposed a vote by head. This was considered a "slap in the face" by the third estate! Now, the third estate treated the nobles with hostility and suspicion.

 
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