Final answer:
The nobles had mixed reactions to the tax proposal in 1789. Some supported it as a necessary step towards economic reform, while others were strongly opposed to it due to perceived attacks on their privileges. The higher-ranking nobles resisted any attempts to increase their tax burden.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nobles had mixed reactions to the tax proposal in 1789. While some nobles supported the proposal and saw it as a way to address the financial crisis and reduce their own privileges, others were strongly opposed to it. The nobility, especially the higher-ranking nobles, enjoyed many privileges and exemptions from taxes, so they resisted any attempts to increase taxation on themselves.
The nobles who supported the tax proposal saw it as a necessary step towards economic reform and believed that it was important for all segments of society to contribute to the nation's finances. They recognized the growing discontent among the commoners and understood that refusing to pay taxes would only further fuel the unrest.
However, the majority of the nobles, especially those from the higher ranks, were fiercely opposed to the tax proposal. They saw it as an attack on their privileges and resisted any attempts to increase their own tax burden. They argued that the nobility had already made significant contributions to the nation and should not be burdened with additional taxes.