Why Was The Tennis Court Oath Important?

The Tennis Court Oath was taken by the deputies of the Third Estate on June 20, 1789. It was a pledge to not disperse until a new French Constitution had been written. Why was this oath so important?

Introduction

The Tennis Court Oath (French: Serment du Jeu de paume) was a key event during the first days of the French Revolution; it 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 of the Third Estate had intended to meet on 17 June, but arrived to find their hall closed. They met instead in a tennis court, and swore not to separate until they had achieved constitutional reform. They then moved their meeting to the nearby Salle du Jeu de Paume. The Tennis Court Oath became an iconic symbol of the French Revolution. It was later commemorated in France with a large painting now displayed in the Palace of Versailles.

The Third Estate represented all that was common in France: businessmen, artisans, peasants; they sought to be included in government decisions and reforms. When King Louis XVI called for an Estates-General meeting in May 1789 to address pressing issues such as financial reform, he unwittingly sparked a revolution. The commoners’ deputies nearly tripled their representation at the Estates-General, which dissolved into chaos. As the deputies attempted to assert their authority over the king, he ordered their arrest and went into hiding with his family at Versailles.

While searching for Louis XVI, deputies from the Third Estate clashed with royal troops on 20 June 1789 at an entry gate to Versailles. In response, many deputies took an oath “not to separate until they had given France a constitution.” They quickly began referring to themselves as National Assemblymen (Assemblée nationale). Two days later, Louis XVI capitulated and accepted whatever constitution they produced. Although not widespread throughout France at the time, news of this event reached Paris quickly and did much to solidify support for the revolutionaries among Parisians.

The Tennis Court Oath

On June 20, 1789, the Third Estate made a decision that would change the course of French history. In an act of defiance against the King and the aristocracy, they swore an oath not to disperse until they had written a new constitution. This oath, called the Tennis Court Oath, was an important step in the French Revolution.

What was the Tennis Court Oath?

On June 20, 1789, the deputies of the Third Estate in France went to the King’s Tennis Court in Paris to take an oath not to separate until they had given France a new constitution. The Oath was a turning point in the French Revolution because it showed that the deputies were serious about getting a new constitution. The deputies also started to call themselves the National Assembly after they took the Oath.

Why was the Tennis Court Oath important?

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 Tennis Court Oath was a symbol of the resolve of the common people of France to establish their own National Assembly, separate from the control of the French king and aristocracy.

The Tennis Court Oath was important because it represented the beginning of the French Revolution. The French Revolution was a time when the people of France overthrew the existing government and established a new republic. The Revolution began with a series of protests and uprisings, and it ended with the execution of King Louis XVI.

Conclusion

The Tennis Court Oath was an important event during the early days of the French Revolution. It showed that the people were willing to stand up for their rights and were willing to fight for a better future. It also showed that the people were united in their desire for change. The Tennis Court Oath was a turning point in the Revolution and it set the stage for the capture of the Bastille and other important events.