Where Was The Tennis Court Oath?

The Tennis Court Oath (French: Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a key event during the first days of the French Revolution. The Oath was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General on 20 June 1789.

The Tennis Court Oath

The Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a watershed event during the early days of the French Revolution. On June 20, 1789, representatives of the Third Estate took the oath on a tennis court, vowing “not to separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established.” The following morning, they met at the Louvre and formally adopted the title of National Assembly. The Tennis Court Oath became a symbol of the Revolution, cementing the ideas of popular sovereignty and equality.

What is the Tennis Court Oath?

The Tennis Court Oath was a pledge signed by 577 of the 581 members of the Third Estate who met at a tennis court in Paris on June 20, 1789. The Tennis Court Oath was significant because it demonstrated the determination of the Third Estate to create a new French constitution in the face of opposition from King Louis XVI.

When was the Tennis Court Oath taken?

The Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General on 20 June 1789. The deputies had been planning to meet at an indoor tennis court at the Jeu de Paume, but were locked out by royal order. In response, they moved to an outdoor courtyard and took an oath not to separate until they had drafted a new constitution for France. The Tennis Court Oath became an important symbol of the early stages of the French Revolution.

Who took the Tennis Court Oath?

The Tennis Court Oath (French: Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General on 20 June 1789. The only person who did not sign was Joseph Martin-Dauch, a representative of the clergy who chose not to take part in the proceedings. The meeting had been convened at the court in Versailles to discuss financial reforms, but quickly degenerated into discussion of revolution.

This oath was a pledge to pursue with vigor a constitutional monarchy in France, without giving up until it had been achieved. They also promised to disobey any laws that would hinder their goal. The Tennis Court Oath became an important symbol of the French Revolution and led directly to the storming of the Bastille three days later.

The Tennis Court Oath and the French Revolution

The Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate on 20 June 1789. The National Assembly had been locked out of their usual meeting place at the Salle des Menus-Plaisirs by royal order, so they met in a tennis court at the Jeu de Paume, an indoor tennis court in the Palace of Versailles.

What was the Tennis Court Oath’s role in the French Revolution?

The Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General on 20 June 1789. The only person who did not sign was Joseph Martin-Dauch, a deputy from Bas-Rhin. The Third Estate had convened at the Jeu de Paume, an indoor tennis court adjacent to the Palace of Versailles, in an attempt to force the King to reconvene the Estates-General.

The deputies were frustrated because they had been denied their proper voting configuration of one vote per estate, as prescribed in the ordinances of 1614. They claimed that these ordinances were illegal and that the first and second estates should only have a collective vote, rather than each having one vote as intended by these rules.

King Louis XVI refused to reconvene the Estates-General, so on 17 June 1789, the deputies from the Third Estate declared themselves the National Assembly (Assemblée nationale). Three days later, they took their oath not to separate before creating a new French constitution. This constitution would enshrine their notion of popular sovereignty – that is, that sovereignty rests with “the people” and not with any monarch or other authority.

The Tennis Court Oath was seen as pivotal in solidifying support for the National Assembly among ordinary citizens and began what would become known as the French Revolution.

What were the consequences of the Tennis Court Oath?

The Tennis Court Oath (French: Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a pivotal event during the first days of the French Revolution. The Oath was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General on 20 June 1789. The only person who did not sign was Joseph Martin-Dauch, a representative of the Second Estate who believed that the Third Estate, rather than reconstituting itself as a National Assembly, should return home and await recall by King Louis XVI.

The Tennis Court Oath inspired a crowd in Paris to storm the Bastille nine days later on 14 July in one of the most significant events of the early revolution. The Bastille was a fortress used to hold political prisoners, and it came to symbolize all that was wrong with absolute monarchy in France. The storming of the Bastille signaled to all that change was coming, and it galvanized popular support for the revolution.

The Tennis Court Oath was significant because it showed that ordinary people were willing to stand up against their king and demand change. It also showed that people were willing to work together for a common cause, something that would be essential for success in overthrowing an entrenched government. Finally, it showed that people were willing to make sacrifices for their beliefs; many of those who signed the oath knew that they were risking their lives by doing so.

The Significance of the Tennis Court Oath Today

On June 20, 1789, representatives of the Third Estate took the Tennis Court Oath at the Palais des Tuileries in Paris. This act was a key moment in the French Revolution, as the people pledged to create a new constitution. The Tennis Court Oath is significant today because it represents the power of the people.

What does the Tennis Court Oath represent today?

The Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General on 20 June 1789. The deputies were then forced to meet in a nearby indoor tennis court where they took an oath not to disperse until they had granted France a written constitution. The Tennis Court Oath represents an important step in the early days of the French Revolution as it showed that the deputies from the Third Estate were committed to working together to enact change.

While the Tennis Court Oath was significant at the time, its legacy continues to be relevant today. For example, in 2017, France’s Prime Minister Edouard Philippe invoked the oath when announcing plans for sweeping reforms to labor laws. He did so in order to emphasize his commitment to making changes that would benefit all of France, not just special interests groups. In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron also quoted from the Tennis Court Oath when vowing to push ahead with ambitious reforms despite strong opposition from unions and protesters.

The Tennis Court Oath is thus remembered as an important symbol of solidarity and determination in the face of adversity. It continues to inspire people today who are fighting for social or economic justice.

What are the modern-day implications of the Tennis Court Oath?

In 1789, the Tennis Court Oath was a pivotal moment in the French Revolution. The revolutionaries swore an oath not to disperse until they had drafted a new constitution for France. This act was a direct challenge to the authority of King Louis XVI and helped to solidify the power of the National Assembly.

While the specific circumstances of the French Revolution are very different from modern day, there are some important lessons that can be drawn from the Tennis Court Oath. First, it is a reminder that ordinary citizens have the power to challenge unjust laws and authority figures. Second, it highlights the importance of coming together in solidarity to fight for common goals.

In a time when many countries are facing political turmoil and divisions, the Tennis Court Oath stands as a reminder of what is possible when people come together in pursuit of justice.