---
title: "Estates-General Definition and Importance | Model Diplomat"
description: "The Estates-General was an assembly of France's three estates, convened in 1789 to address a financial crisis, marking a pivotal historical moment."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/estates-general"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The Estates-General was an assembly representing the three estates of France, convened in 1789 for the first time since 1614.
- What was the purpose of convening the Estates-General in 1789?
- What did the Third Estate demand at the Estates-General?

[History & Current Affairs](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/history/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The Estates-General was an assembly representing the three estates of France, convened in 1789 for the first time since 1614.

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The convening of the Estates-General in 1789 was a catalyst for the French Revolution.

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- [National Assembly](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/national-assembly)
- [Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/declaration-of-the-rights-of-man)

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