Imagine this, you are living in France and are part of the current Third Estate which consists of a variety of people with different occupations, levels of education, and wealth. You consisted of around 97% of the people but only owned about 65% of the land whereas the other two Estates, the First and Second Estates, consisted of both the nobility and clergies. The First Estate was only around 1% of the population but owned 10% of the Land and the Second Estate had around 2% of the population and owned 25% of the land. The Third Estate was also the only one of the three Estates who paid taxes, on top of that they had no voice in politics until in 1788 King Louis XVI called for the Estates General when the French Government was close to collapsing due to the Depression France suffered through from 1778-1787 as result of a loss of overseas markets and overproduction. Upon the King’s request, the Estate General gathered together for the first time since 1614. When the decision w
as made, on what they were going to do, again the Third Estate felt they were being treated wrongly since they consisted of close to all of the people but still only got one vote. They revolted and created the Tennis Court Oath which signified the first time that French citizens stood up against Louis XVI. This was just the beginning of the Revolts, one individual who had a great impact on the French Revolution went by the name of Maximilien Robespierre who was a member of the Estates General, politics was his life, and he was dedicated to using power to benefit the people. His definition of power is often looked over to not just be power but severe violence and some ask if he destroyed the principles of the Revolution or if he preserved them. I believe that he destroyed the Principles of the Revolution by murdering thousands of people who didnt support every idea had and by making his idea of virtue and representing it as pride in their own country but then killing his people.