Estates-General Convened

• The Estates-General was convened by King Louis XVI.
• The meeting consisted of representatives from the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.
• The Third Estate was frustrated with the voting system favoring the first two estates.
• The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly.
• The Tennis Court Oath was taken by members of the National Assembly.

The Estates-General was convened on 5 May 1789 at the Palace of Versailles. This assembly was called by King Louis XVI primarily to address the financial crisis that had engulfed France. The financial woes were partly due to the country's involvement in expensive conflicts, such as the American Revolutionary War, which had drained the state coffers. Additionally, a regressive tax system exacerbated socio-economic disparities.

The Estates-General represented the three traditional estates of the realm: the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), and the commoners (Third Estate). Each estate had one vote, which created significant discontent among the Third Estate, as they represented the majority of the French population but could be outvoted by the combined clergy and nobility. This voting system ultimately led to sharp disagreements and frustration, as the Third Estate sought fairer representation and reforms.

From its beginning, the convening of the Estates-General highlighted the deep-seated social and political tensions within French society. The Third Estate quickly grew dissatisfied and eventually broke away, declaring itself the National Assembly on 17 June 1789. This act marked the beginning of a series of events that would dramatically reshape France's governmental structure. 

During its short existence, the Estates-General struggled to make substantive progress. Internal conflicts and the rigid structure of the assembly rendered it ineffective in dealing with the pressing issues facing France. Moreover, the assembly's inability to address the grievances of the Third Estate contributed to the rising tide of revolutionary fervor.

The meetings of the Estates-General were initially intended to pave the way for fiscal reforms, but their failure led to the radicalization of the Third Estate. The transition from the Estates-General to the National Assembly was a significant development in the early stages of the French Revolution, serving as a catalyst for further revolutionary actions and reforms. The call to convene the Estates-General ultimately exposed the inadequacies of the ancien régime and set the stage for the sweeping changes that would follow.

• The Estates-General was convened on 5 May 1789 at the Palace of Versailles, marking the first meeting in over 175 years (the last session was in 1614).
• It was composed of three estates: the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), and the common people or Third Estate; the Third Estate represented about 97% of the population but had only one vote compared to each of the other estates' votes.
• The convening of the Estates-General was initially meant to address the financial crisis facing France, but it quickly transformed into a platform for broader political reform and representation.
• The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly on 17 June 1789, signifying a pivotal shift in the revolution as it moved towards establishing a new legislative body that would challenge the existing monarchy.
• The Tennis Court Oath was taken shortly after the Estates-General convened; on 20 June 1789, members of the Third Estate swore not to disband until a new constitution was established, representing the first assertion of popular sovereignty.