First Estate was consisted of the rich and poor. They were made up of very wealthy abbots, members of the aristocracy who
lived in luxury off the wealthy church lands and then there were the poor priests who lived like peasants.
Second Estate was the nobility who had inherited their titles and their wealth came from the land. Some members of this
estate had little money but still enjoyed the privileges of the noble rank which most did enjoy both privileges and wealth.
Third Estate was the common people which was the largest group of people in France. Everyone who was not a member of the
first or second estate was a member of this one, the third. This estate included wealthy merchants, doctors, lawyers, shopkeepers,
the urban poor, and the peasants who worked the land. A very diverse group.
The issues between these three estates were that the noblility wanted greater political influence for themselves but nothing
for the third estate
The Estates-General
This is where each estate marched into the hall at Versailles about the issues on May 5, 1789.
The delegates of the third estate insisted that the three orders meet together and take a vote by head instead of by order
which would give them a majority since there was more of them. The King refused to grant the request and the third estate
refused to budge.
The Estates General role would lead to the Tennis Court Oath and the soon joining of the three estates.
