The Tennis Court Oath: What Was It and What Did It Mean for the French

The Tennis Court Oath was a key moment during the early days of the French Revolution. Here’s what you need to know about this important event.

The Tennis Court Oath: What Was It?

The Tennis Court Oath was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members of the Estates-General of France on June 20, 1789. The Oath was a declaration of the National Assembly’s determination to continue meeting until France had a new constitution. It was also a show of support for Louis XVI, who had called the Estates-General into session.

A group of deputies from the Third Estate take an oath in a tennis court in Paris

On June 20, 1789, a group of deputies from the Third Estate gathered in a tennis court in the city of Versailles. The deputies were angry because King Louis XVI had called a meeting of the Estates-General, but he had only called for representatives from the first and second estates. The Third Estate, which represented the common people of France, was not included.

The deputies decided to take an oath that they would not leave the tennis court until they had written a new constitution for France. This event came to be known as the Tennis Court Oath.

The Tennis Court Oath was an important event in the French Revolution because it showed that the Third Estate was willing to fight for its rights. The Oath also showed that the deputies were willing to break with tradition in order to create a new society.

The deputies pledge to remain united until a new constitution is established

On June 20, 1789, the deputies of the National Assembly gathered at the Tennis Court in Versailles to affirm their commitment to continue their deliberations until they had drawn up a new constitution for France. This event became known as the Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume).

The deputies had been meeting since May 5 in an attempt to develop a new constitution, but their work was disrupted by the outbreak of the French Revolution on May 10. The Revolutionaries were demanding change and an end to inequality, and they quickly began to press for more radical measures.

The deputies were divided on how to proceed with their work, and on June 18 they voted to appoint a constitutional committee to draft a new constitution. However, this plan was met with opposition from some of the more radical members of the Assembly, who argued that it would be undemocratic for a small group of people to make decisions on behalf of the nation.

The following day, these radicals took control of the Assembly and demanded that all of the deputies pledge their allegiance to continue working until a new constitution was completed. Approximately 600 deputies took the oath, though many of them later retracted their pledge.

The Tennis Court Oath was an important moment in the early days of the French Revolution. It showed that the deputies were willing to stand up for their beliefs and fight for change. It also demonstrated that there were divisions within the Assembly over how best to proceed with creating a new constitution. These divisions would eventually lead to more radical measures being taken by revolutionaries in the months and years ahead.

What Did the Tennis Court Oath Mean for the French?

The Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a declaration made by the representatives of the Third Estate on 20th June 1789. The representatives had gathered at the Tennis Court in Versailles, France to discuss the issues they had with the current government. They pledged to not leave until they had drawn up a new constitution. The Tennis Court Oath was a turning point in the French Revolution as it showed the people’s determination to get rid of the old regime.

The Tennis Court Oath was a significant event during the French Revolution

The Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members of the Third Estate who were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General at the Palace of Versailles on 20 June 1789. The only person who did not sign was Joseph Martin-Dauch, a deputy from Alsace.

The deputies were reaffirming their commitment to the National Assembly, which they had elected on 17 June, in the face of opposition from King Louis XVI. They also pledged to continue meeting until they had written a new constitution for France. The Tennis Court Oath was one of the key events in the early stages of the French Revolution and helped to bring about a republic.

The Oath showed that the Third Estate was willing to fight for their rights

The Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who met at the Jeu de Paume tennis court in Versailles on June 20, 1789. It promised that the group would not disband until a new French constitution had been created. The Oath showed that the Third Estate was willing to fight for their rights and provided a strong start for the French Revolution.

The Third Estate consisted of commoners who were frustrated with their lack of political power and the heavy tax burden they faced. The group included peasants, workers, and bourgeoisie (middle-class citizens). The Tennis Court Oath was their way of taking a stand against King Louis XVI and demanding more representation.

The Revolution began with the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, and ended with Napoleon Bonaparte taking control of France in 1799. The Tennis Court Oath was an important step in the early days of the Revolution, and its effects can still be seen in France today.

The Oath was a key factor in the establishment of the National Assembly

July 17, 1789, outside the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs in Versailles, France, a large group of noblemen and commoners gathered to protest the refusal of King Louis XVI to grant a fair representation of the people in government. The number of attendees quickly swelled to over six hundred, and when the king’s soldiers were sent to disperse the crowd, they instead joined it. The protest became known as the Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume), named for the nearby indoor tennis court where the group gathered.

The protesters, now calling themselves the National Assembly, vowed not to leave until they had drawn up a new constitution for France. The Tennis Court Oath was a key factor in the establishment of the National Assembly, which would go on to play a vital role in the French Revolution.