aug 8, 1788 - The royal treasury is declared empty

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The Parlement of Paris, an assembly of nobles, refuses to reform the tax system or loan the Crown more money. To win their support for fiscal reforms, the Minister of Finance, Brienne, sets May 5, 1789 for a meeting of the Estates General, an assembly of the nobility, clergy and commoners (the Third Estate), which has not met since 1614.

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