Following economic despair, King Louis XVI calls for a meeting of French representatives. During the meeting, the National Assembly is founded and the Revolution began. Following the heavy losses of the French and Indian War, as well as France’s involvement in the American Revolution, the country found itself in a massive financial crisis. Debt, inflation, [...]

Formed in Versailles by deputies from Brittany during the Estates-General of 1789, the earliest meetings were secretive and few records remain regarding their content. Soon, other members from the rest of France joined, swelling their ranks. Mirabeau controlled their earliest incarnations, joined by Abbe Sieyes, Abbe Gregoire, Charles Lameth, Antoine Barnave, duc d’Aiguillon and Maximilien Robespierre.

At the beginning of the French Revolution, a number of members of the Third Estate and some from the First Estate signed what became known as the Tennis Court Oath. These members met during the Estates-General of June 20, 1789 at a tennis court located near the Palace of Versailles. 576 of the 577 people attending signed the document.

When the Estates-General convened on May 5, 1789, the deliberations became deadlocked within one day. The Third Estate’s representation attempted to make the whole body more effective, however, the group decided to begin meeting separately from the Estates-General on May 11. They established the Communes, eventually letting members of the First Estate join as well. On June 17, the Communes was declared the National Assembly with a vote of 490 to 90. As the First Estate of clergy began to dissipate into the Assembly, a political agenda unfolded as well as legislative action.