As the year 1789 began, and a sense of the nation began to crystallize, France was gripped by the imminent convening of the Estates-General, which was universally viewed as the forum for solving the problems facing the country. The level of enthusiasm was partially sustained, however, by a misapprehension on the part of the clergy and the nobility on the one hand, and the Third Estate on the other. For their part, many within the clergy and nobility, especially the latter, interpreted the December 27, 1788, decision by the Crown to double the representation of the Third Estate as an independent action that did not necessarily amend the traditional method of voting by order. The Third Estate, however, believed that vote by head was implicit in the doubling of its representation, and most elements within it felt a sense of gratitude toward Louis for the action.

The drafting of cahiers in preparation for the opening of the Estates-General particularly encompassed many of the contradictory currents circulating in France during the early months of 1789.