In 1789, to avert the deepening crisis, Louis agreed to summon the Estates-General (a form of parliament, but without real power) in order to try and raise taxes. This was the first time the body had met since 1614. Angered by Louis' refusal to allow the three Estates - the First (clergy), Second (nobles) and Third (commons) - to meet simultaneously, the Third Estate proclaimed itself a National Assembly, declaring that only they had the right to represent the nation. Rumours that the king intended to suppress the assembly provoked the storming of the Bastille prison, a symbol of repressive royal power, on 14 July 1789.
Monsieur Lomenie de Brienne was the finance minister of Louis XVI at the time. He wanted to introduce a series of economizations, but the notables did not approve of his plans. He begged the King to take a stand, but Louis XVI hesitated. La Fayette was the one that advised Louis XVI to call for the Estates General. Eventually, Louis XVI took this advice, but realized that this was a very serious blow to the monarchy. Though he was forced to, because if he would have objected to summon them, the whole country would have been in a huge uprising.
The bourgeoisie believed the only way to overthrow the monarchy was to summon the Estates General. They were right.
He needed help to resolve the French financial crisis.
By calling the Estates-General Louis the XIV would be at a disadvantage because it would give more power to the 1st Estate and the 2nd Estate. He would be losing power and he had no reason to call on the Estates-General. Louis the XVIII had to call on the Estates-General because the country was about to go bankrupt and he had no other choice but to call on the Estates-General and ask them for a loan.
In the build-up to the violent outbreak of the French Revolution, a meeting of the three-part Estates-General was in fact called by Louis XVI (rather than Louis XIV) in order to gain support for needed economic reforms. Meeting in May of 1789, the Estates-General soon took the initiative for reforms far beyond those envisioned by the French king.
The meetong of the Estates General was called by King Louis XVI because of the huge French National debt.
In 1789, the meeting of the French 'Estates-General' contributed to France's financial crisis, not to overlook its more general socio-political crisis, by adding additional demands and placing additional pressures on the French monarchy -- again, financially and otherwise. Once Louis XVI regretted his calling of the Estates-General meeting to such an extent that he attempted to disband it, however, it was too late: the French Revolution had begun.
1789
He needed help to resolve the French financial crisis.
Monsieur Lomenie de Brienne was the finance minister of Louis XVI at the time. He wanted to introduce a series of economizations, but the notables did not approve of his plans. He begged the King to take a stand, but Louis XVI hesitated. La Fayette was the one that advised Louis XVI to call for the Estates General. Eventually, Louis XVI took this advice, but realized that this was a very serious blow to the monarchy. Though he was forced to, because if he would have objected to summon them, the whole country would have been in a huge uprising. The bourgeoisie believed the only way to overthrow the monarchy was to summon the Estates General. They were right.
By calling the Estates-General Louis the XIV would be at a disadvantage because it would give more power to the 1st Estate and the 2nd Estate. He would be losing power and he had no reason to call on the Estates-General. Louis the XVIII had to call on the Estates-General because the country was about to go bankrupt and he had no other choice but to call on the Estates-General and ask them for a loan.
King Louis XVI.
The Estates General met on May 5th, 1789, in Versailles, France.
Louis wanted an absolute monarchy. They wanted a constitution.
King Louis XVI of France
1789
No, he didn't, but Louis XVI did in 1789
In preparation for the Estates General, Louis XVI had the three estates compile cahiers that stated their grievances against the government. There was also the formation of the National Assembly, which in turn started the Tennis Court Oaths.
In preparation for the Estates General, Louis XVI had the three estates compile cahiers that stated their grievances against the government. There was also the formation of the National Assembly, which in turn started the Tennis Court Oaths.