French Revolution- The Cahiers de Doleances

When were the Cahiers de Doleances drawn up?

1789

How many cahiers were produced?

40,000

Main issues of the 3rd estate cahiers

Unproportionate taxation, seigneurialism, tithes

Main issues of the 2nd estate cahiers

Ability to reach higher offices by merit

Main issues of the 1st estate cahiers

Higher wages, limits to Louis XVI's tolerance of Protestantism

What did all estates cahiers agree on?

Estates-General or representative body should decide on taxes, constitutional reform is needed, E-G should meet regularly, hatred for lettres de cachet, freedom of the press

Issues which divided the Estates in the cahiers

How to vote in the Estates-General (vote by head or vote by estate)

What limited the representation of the 3rd estate through cahiers?

Often illiterate needed nobles or bourgeoisie to draw up their cahiers for them-- not the voice of the masses