[Sidenote: Role of the Court and the Privileged]
In the first place, the people who benefit by the political and social
arrangements of the "old regime" will oppose its destruction. Among
these friends of the "old regime" may be included the royal court,
headed by the queen, Marie Antoinette, and by the king's brothers, the
count of Provence and the count of Artois, and likewise the bulk of the
higher clergy and the nobles--the privileged classes, generally. These
persons cannot be expected to surrender their privileges without a
struggle, especially since they have been long taught that such
privileges are of divine sanction. Only dire necessity compels them to
acquiesce in the convocation of the Estates-General and only the
mildest measures of reform can be palatable to them. They hate and
dread revolution or the thought of revolution. Yet at their expense the
Revolution will be achieved.
[Sidenote: Role of the Bourgeoisie]
In the second place, the bourgeoisie, who have the most to lose if the
"old regime" is continued and the most to gain if reforms are obtained,
will constitute the majority in all the legislative bodies which will
assemble in France between 1789 and 1799.
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