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French Revolution Source Question

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Submitted By laurenhembley
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With reference to Source A, B and C, and your understanding of the historical context, assess the value of these sources to an historian studying the significance of 1789. [30 marks]

Source A is an extract from the pamphlet labelled ‘What is the Third Estate?’ written by the French clergyman Abbé Sieyés which was published in January 1789. The author, Sieyés, was elected as a representative of the Third Estate when the Estates-General were met in May 1789. It can, therefore, be argued that the source is useful to historians studying the significance of 1789 owing to the fact that it embodies the views of the Third Estate even if it is propaganda. In addition to this, it is important to mention that Source A is published in January 1789 when revolutionary ideologies were swiftly spreading across the country as a result of the King’s declaration in August 1788 that the Estates-General would meet which is often considered by historians to have been a factor of the outbreak of the Revolution in 1789 as it made members of the public believe change was possible.
To an historian, the arguments presented by Sieyés in the source itself are both relevant and useful to develop a greater understanding of the significance of 1789 owing to the fact that it presents the frustrations and the requirements the Third Estate. Sieyés use of the question and answer combination featured in the pamphlet of ‘What is the Third Estate? – Everything’ presents the argument that those who make up the Third Estate i.e. the menu peuple are the nation itself. This can be supported by the known fact that they represented approximately 98 per cent of the French population. It can be useful to an historian as it presents the growing ideology that the Third Estate, as a majority body, should possess the ability to manage the nation’s affairs which arguably led to the formation of the National

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