a “s, 
UNIVERSITY STUDIES 
VoL. XVII April-July 1917 Nos. 2, 3 
T 1E MEETING OF THE ESTATES-GENERAL, 1789: 
THE UNION OF THE THREE ORDERS, 
JUNE 24 TO JUNE 27 
BY JEANETTE NEEDHAM 
I 
|The calling of the estates-general for 1789 marked the cul- 
ie nation of a long and bitter struggle between the king and the 
vileged orders, caused chiefly by the financial embarrassment 
the country. The victory over the king was the signal for a 
1 more bitter conflict between the third estate and the priv- 
ileg ged classes over the organization of the estates-general. It 
Y was continued after the formal opening of the estates in May, 
1789, under the guise of a new contest, over the manner of 
ov a of credentials. Although outwardly but a matter 
of parliamentary procedure, this question in reality veiled that 
Bother most important question of whether there should be a 
single assembly with majority rule, upon which the third estate 
in insisted, or an adherence to the ancient custom of three assemblies 
with vote by order. Consequently the decision on credentials 
would imply the settlement of the other question which was the 
sal cause of strife. Conferences due to the initiative of the 
clergy failed to break the deadlock; nor did the renewal of the 
conferences, under the direction of the government, bring more 
‘satisfactory results. At last, after more than a month of dis- 
-sension, this struggle of the orders, which had at bottom the 
further question of how France should be reformed, was resolved 
oe: 115 
