Why were members of the Third Estate dissaticfied with life under the Old Regime?

Question

Why were members of the Third Estate dissaticfied with life under the Old Regime?

How did Louis XVI's weak leadership contribute to the growing crisis in France?

Answer 1

Third Estate represented 95% of french population and have only 578 seats in General Estates (291 for the clergy, 270 for the nobility) that's why they couldn't do much. The General Estates were seldom called (only for major crises) and the whole authority belong to the King and his government.

There was an emerging class (bourgeoisie or middle class), traders, lawyers, bank owners with a lot of money and dissatisfied of their role in society. They wanted the same privileges as the noble men (right to get lands). Plus, this class had access to education and Enlightments ideas... (and they had the money to change things)

85% of the whole population were peasants and the last years before revolution had been difficult (bad harvests, "flours war", lack of money then lack of investments). Well that was misery and there were not less than 4 millions "poor" (riots)

Louis XVI was not really "weak", he was certainly not as strong as Louis XIII, Louis XIV and Louis XV, and as a matter of fact he was not even to be king. I think he was not absolutely against the Enlightments' ideas of an authority shared between people and the King but he was too consensual and did not like conflicts. He could not manage to keep a single line of conduct when he felt an opposition. That's why there was an instability with Maupeou, Brienne, Necker, Turgot, dismissed, recalled...
When the insurrection began (serment du jeu de Paume), Louis XVI refuses to use violence and accept that General Estates become Constitutional Assembly (if there is a constitution, the authority isn't absolute anymore).

Answer 2

1st. What is the third estate? Everything.
2nd. What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing.
3rd. What does it demand? To become something therein.

98% of the Population, the third estate had little politcal power compared to the church and nobility.

Louis XVI, under the influence of the courtiers of his privy council, resolved to go in state to the Assembly, annul its decrees, command the separation of the orders, and dictate the reforms to be effected by the restored Estates-General.

If Louis had marched into where the National Assembly met, his plan might have succeeded. Instead, he remained at Marly and ordered the hall closed, expecting to prevent the Assembly from meeting for several days while he prepared. The Assembly simply moved their deliberations to the king's tennis court, where they proceeded to swear the Tennis Court Oath (June 20, 1789), under which they agreed not to separate until they had given France a constitution.

Answer 3

Ohh Who lives in a pineapple below the sea "Spongebob squarepants" Absorbant and yellow and porous is he "Spongebob Squarepants" If nautical nonsense be some thing you like "Spongebob Squarepants" Then flop on the deck and plop like a fish "Spongebob Squarepants"