Estates-General

The Estates-General was a legislative assembly in France, traditionally convened to address major issues, particularly financial crises. It represented three social classes: the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (commoners). Called by King Louis XVI in 1789, it became a turning point in the French Revolution when the Third Estate, feeling underrepresented, broke away to form the National Assembly, marking a shift toward democracy. The Estates-General highlighted class tensions and significantly influenced France's political landscape, ultimately leading to the establishment of a more representative government.