The Estates General of 1789 ended in failure primarily due to deep-seated social and political tensions within France. The Estates General was a legislative body that represented the three estates of the realm: the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), and the commoners (Third Estate). However, the system was inherently flawed as it gave disproportionate power to the First and Second Estates, while the Third Estate, representing the vast majority of the population, had limited influence.
One of the main reasons for its failure was the issue of voting. Traditionally, each estate would vote as a single bloc, meaning that the First and Second Estates could easily outvote the Third Estate. This system was seen as unjust by the Third Estate, which demanded voting by head, where each delegate would have an equal vote. When this demand was not met, the Third Estate broke away and formed the National Assembly, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.
Additionally, the Estates General failed to address the pressing financial crisis that France was facing. The country was burdened with massive debt, and the existing tax system was inefficient and unfair, heavily taxing the commoners while exempting the nobility and clergy. The inability to implement meaningful fiscal reforms further eroded the legitimacy of the Estates General.
In summary, the Estates General of 1789 failed due to its inability to resolve the voting dispute, address the financial crisis, and reform the outdated social and political structures. These failures led to the rise of the National Assembly and the eventual collapse of the old regime.