Document 1: The Tennis Court Oath

On June 20, 1789, the National Assembly was locked out of the hall where they had previously met. The Assembly reconvened at a nearby tennis court, where they made the following oath, a vow that they would not disband until they had written a constitution.

The National Assembly, considering that it has been summoned to determine the constitution of the Kingdom, to contrive the regeneration of law and order, and to maintain true principles of monarchy; that nothing can prevent it from pursuing its deliberations in whatever place it may be forced to establish itself, and, finally, that wherever its members are gathered, there is the National Assembly;

Decrees that all members of this Assembly shall immediately swear a solemn oath not to separate, and to re-assemble wherever circumstances may necessitate, until the constitution of the Kingdom is established and consolidated...