17 June 1789
On 17 June 1789, members of the Third Estate (representatives of the common people) declared themselves the National Assembly. This was a pivotal moment during the French Revolution, marking a significant break from the traditional Estates-General, which included representatives from the clergy (First Estate) and the nobility (Second Estate). The declaration by the Third Estate was driven by frustration over the inequality in voting procedures, where each estate had one vote, often resulting in the Third Estate being outvoted by the combined First and Second Estates. The formation of the National Assembly was primarily in response to financial crises and widespread social and economic unrest in France. The Third Estate demanded a more equitable system where votes were counted per head rather than per estate. This change aimed to better represent the vast majority of the French population, who were from the Third Estate. The insistence of the representatives to address these inequities highlighted the deepening divide between the commoners and the privileged classes. The events took a more dramatic turn on 20 June 1789, when the members of the newly declared National Assembly found themselves locked out of their regular meeting hall at Versailles. They convened at a nearby indoor tennis court and took an oath, known as the Tennis Court Oath, vowing not to disband until they had drafted a new constitution for France. This act of defiance underscored their commitment to political reform and further positioned the Assembly as a significant force in the revolutionary movement. In the ensuing weeks, King Louis XVI's attempts to placate the Third Estate by declaring some reforms were deemed insufficient. On 27 June 1789, the King relented under pressure, recognizing the National Assembly and ordering the other two estates to join them. This recognition solidified the National Assembly's authority and demonstrated the increasing power of the common people in shaping the future of France. The National Assembly's early actions, including the abolition of feudal privileges on 4 August 1789 and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen on 26 August 1789, laid the groundwork for a new societal framework. These reforms were intended to diminish the traditional privileges enjoyed by the clergy and nobility while promoting principles of equality and individual rights. Throughout its existence, the National Assembly faced numerous challenges, including internal divisions and external threats from conservative forces within France and neighboring monarchies that feared the spread of revolutionary ideas. Despite these obstacles, the National Assembly played a crucial role in transitioning France from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional system, ultimately leading to more radical phases of the Revolution. The significance of the National Assembly's declaration lies in its role in dismantling the feudal structures that had governed French society for centuries. By asserting the sovereignty of the people, it set a precedent for the democratic movements that would follow, both within France and globally, as nations grappled with the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.