The Tennis Court Oath

The Tennis Court Oath (serment du jeu de paume) was a pivotal event during the French Revolution that took place on June 20, 1789, in Versailles, France. It occurred when members of the Third Estate, representing the common people, were locked out of their usual meeting place at the Estates-General and instead gathered in a nearby indoor tennis court.

Background
- The Estates-General was a legislative assembly made up of representatives from the three estates of French society: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.
- The Third Estate, which represented the majority of the population, had demanded reforms and a more equitable distribution of power.
- Frustrated by the resistance of the other two estates, the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly, claiming to represent the people of France.

The Tennis Court Oath
- On June 20, 1789, the members of the National Assembly, fearing they would be disbanded by King Louis XVI, found themselves locked out of their usual meeting place at the Estates-General.
- Led by prominent figures such as Jean-Sylvain Bailly and Mirabeau, around 576 members of the Third Estate gathered in the nearby Jeu de Paume (tennis court) in Versailles.
- In this historic setting, they took an oath in which they pledged not to disband until a new constitution was established for France.
- The oath, read aloud by Bailly, expressed their determination to achieve political and social reforms, declaring that they would remain united in their efforts to bring about change.
- The Tennis Court Oath marked a significant shift in power, as the members of the Third Estate proclaimed themselves the true representatives of the nation and challenged the authority of the monarchy.

Significance
- The Tennis Court Oath symbolized the unity and determination of the Third Estate in their struggle for political and social transformation.
- It was a powerful statement against the absolute power of the monarchy and laid the foundation for the subsequent events of the French Revolution.
- The oath demonstrated the growing revolutionary spirit among the common people and their willingness to challenge the established order.
- It inspired further acts of resistance and paved the way for the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, which is often considered the starting point of the French Revolution.

In conclusion, the Tennis Court Oath was a momentous event during the French Revolution where members of the Third Estate, locked out of their usual meeting place, gathered in a tennis court to take an oath of unity and determination. This act symbolized their defiance against the monarchy and their commitment to bringing about political and social change. The oath had a significant impact, inspiring further actions and paving the way for the revolutionary events that followed.

On 20 June 1789, the members of the French Estates-General or the Third Estate, who had begun to call themselves the National Assembly, took the Tennis Court Oath, vowing not to separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established. It was a pivotal event in the French Revolution.