discuss the sequence of events which led to the tennis court oath by the third estate in france
Answers
January 24, 1789 to deal with France worsening economy. Due to engaging in foreign conflicts, American Revolution, and bad harvesting the situation in France was bleak. King Louis XVI called for the Estates General fix the nation’s financial issues.
There were three estates that compromised the population of France. The First Estate was the Catholic clergy, the Second Estate was the nobility and the Third Estate was the rest. Half of the deputies of the Estate General were the Third Estate and they made up about 97% of the population. Each estate had one vote and the First and Second Estate were unwilling to vote to make themselves pay taxes. Together they owned about 35% of the land.
On June 17, 1789 the Third Estate declared themselves as the National Assembly and were joined by some members of the other estates. The King ordered that the hall where they were to meet, Salle des États, to be locked and guarded. They moved to the tennis court in Versailles and 577 members agreed to the Tennis Court Oath on June 20, which stated that they would stay assembled until a constitution was created. France was still an absolute monarchy and this would have greatly reduced the king’s power.