The National Assembly
The First step towards the Revolution
A special event has taken place in France on July 9, 1789. The third estate has broken off with the other two estates. Because of the estates voting by blocs, which was basically a system where one estate would count as one vote, the third estate kept losing the votes. Thus, they could not stand it and separated from the other two estates. It is alleged that the third estate would not and could not stop meeting until there is a new constitution written for France. However, Louis XVI prevented this from happening by locking up the meeting rooms so they could not congregate. Therefore, they met up in the Royal Tennis Courts and established the Tennis Court Oath, which was an oath in which they would not separate until the new constitution was written. It is very clear that the third estate longed for a change in social structure and called for reform. This is the first concrete step to revolution.
" I have half a dozen mouths to feed and I can barely afford bread. This truly calls for revolution."
- Edouard, Age 49, Paris
As a result of the creation of the National Assembly, some of the lower clergy and nobles joined the National Assembly. They stated that some taxes were illegally imposed, although, they continued to vote for the same taxes for the sake of the National Assembly itself. This also made the clergy and the nobles have a strong interest into holding more sessions. This forced King Louis XVI to make the other two estates join the National Assembly also. Who knows what can happen now?
" I have half a dozen mouths to feed and I can barely afford bread. This truly calls for revolution."
- Edouard, Age 49, Paris
As a result of the creation of the National Assembly, some of the lower clergy and nobles joined the National Assembly. They stated that some taxes were illegally imposed, although, they continued to vote for the same taxes for the sake of the National Assembly itself. This also made the clergy and the nobles have a strong interest into holding more sessions. This forced King Louis XVI to make the other two estates join the National Assembly also. Who knows what can happen now?
Written by: Tyler Silva
Works Cited
Infoplease, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014. <http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/french-revolution-the-estates-general-national-assembly.html>.
"National Assembly 1789 (France)." History Wars Weapons. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014. <http://historywarsweapons.com/national-assembly-1789- france/>.
National Assembly. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. <http://images.delcampe.com/img_large/auction/000/195/528/765_001.jpg?v=1>.
The National Assembly. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. http://historymad.stmaryscollegehull.co.uk/3ContentPages/KS3/enemies/estaegnerel.jpg.