The King was not part of the Estates General. It was composed of the nobility (First Estate), clergy (Second
Estate) and commoners (Third Estates).
In 1789, King Louis XVI summoned them to solve the country’s financial
deterioration. Usually the first two
estates outvoted the third whenever they voted on a certain issue. This time, however, the Third Estate was
represented Count Mirabeau and the priest Abbe Sieyes who brought the
grievances of the people to the assembly.
Discussions dragged on with no solution in sight. The Third Estate announced that it was now
the new National Assembly who would make laws for the country. When they were prevented entering the session
hall, they assembled at a tennis court
and vowed to create a new constitution and this was called the “Tennis
Court Oath”. Seeing the growing strength of the Third Estate, the King gave in
to their demands and instructed the nobles and clergy to join them.
