'The Three Estates', explores the social hierarchy of the Old Regime. Having maintained the medieval divisions of feudalism, French society was littered with social and economic grievances that existed both between and within the Three Estates. Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod Additional Resources: The Three Estates of the French Revolution https://greyhistory.com/french-revolution-articles/explained_the_three_estates_of_the_french_revolution/ The First Estate https://greyhistory.com/french-revolution-articles/explained-the-first-estate/ The Second Estate https://greyhistory.com/french-revolution-articles/the-second-estate/

Explore the legacies of Louis XVI's forebears. The policies of the Sun King, Louis XIV, and his disappointing successor Louis XV, laid some of the key foundation stones of the French Revolution of 1789. Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Wish to make a one-off donation to support Grey History? https://ko-fi.com/greyhistory Send your questions, praise, and scorn here: https://greyhistory.com/contact/ Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod

Should France participate in the American Revolutionary War? The French cabinet was divided on the issue. The new King's decision had a tremendous impact on French society and laid the building blocks for the Revolution of 1789. As the conflict waged, the popular minister Jacques Necker made powerful enemies at court. Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Wish to make a one-off donation to support Grey History? https://ko-fi.com/greyhistory Send your questions, praise, and scorn here: https://greyhistory.com/contact/ Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod

Multiple scandalous events occur between the American Revolution and the bankruptcy it helped to create. The absence of Necker allowed conservative nobles to conduct a power grab within society, while Enlightenment ideas continued to spread throughout France as the privileged classes abused their prerogatives. Perhaps most importantly for the royal family, the Queen was embroiled in the Diamond Necklace Affair, a scandal that tainted her image permanently in the eyes of the public. Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Wish to make a one-off donation to support Grey History? https://ko-fi.com/greyhistory Send your questions, praise, and scorn here: https://greyhistory.com/contact/ Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod

France will go bankrupt without radical changes to the taxation system. In an effort to avoid the Parlements and an Estates-General, Calonne convenes an Assembly of Notables in February 1787 to try to legitimise radical reforms intended to save the state's finances. Unfortunately for Calonne, the Assembly of Notables fast evolves into an Assembly of Rebels. Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Wish to make a one-off donation to support Grey History? https://ko-fi.com/greyhistory Send your questions, praise, and scorn here: https://greyhistory.com/contact/ Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod

Brienne tackles the Parlements in order to avoid bankruptcy, but the ancient courts were no strangers to obstructing the King's will. Unfortunately for the French monarchy, the Parlements also reject a potential solution to the impending crisis Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Wish to make a one-off donation to support Grey History? https://ko-fi.com/greyhistory Send your questions, praise, and scorn here: https://greyhistory.com/contact/ Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod

As the political situation in Paris and the countryside deteriorated rapidly, armed revolts became a serious threat, radical bodies emerged, and the demands for Necker's reinstatement and the summoning of the Estates-General continued to haunt the government. Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Wish to make a one-off donation to support Grey History? https://ko-fi.com/greyhistory Send your questions, praise, and scorn here: https://greyhistory.com/contact/ Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod

King Louis XVI announced the summoning of the Estates-General, but that did little to contain the kingdom's growing unrest. The Paris Parlement was ridiculed by the public for attempting to ensure the nobility dominated the body, while Necker struggled to grapple with the violent situation he faced as he determined how the Estates-General should be constituted. Finally, the nation listed their grievances as they elected their delegates, giving us a snapshot into the thoughts of a nation on the brink of revolution. Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Wish to make a one-off donation to support Grey History? https://ko-fi.com/greyhistory Send your questions, praise, and scorn here: https://greyhistory.com/contact/ Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod

Episode 9, 'The Estates General', examines the events that unfold once the Estates-General meets at Versailles on 5 May 1789. The episode also explores the impact of food scarcity on the French nation and its bloody consequences. Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Wish to make a one-off donation to support Grey History? https://ko-fi.com/greyhistory Send your questions, praise, and scorn here: https://greyhistory.com/contact/ Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod The Estates-General for students and teachers: http://greyhistory.com/french-revolution-articles/the-estates-general-and-the-french-revolution/

Episode 10, 'The National Assembly', explores how the Estates-General transforms itself into the National Assembly, how the dramatic Tennis Court Oath is undertaken, and how the Court responds to the renegade Third Estate. Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Wish to make a one-off donation to support Grey History? https://ko-fi.com/greyhistory Send your questions, praise, and scorn here: https://greyhistory.com/contact/ Sign Up for the Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/0e846e8d26f5/grey-history-newsletter Follow on Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/greyhistorypodcasts https://www.instagram.com/greyhistorypodcasts/ https://twitter.com/greyhistorypod