EURO ST 10 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Tennis Court Oath, Aristocracy, Hegemony
Document Summary
Lecture - organization of society and the estates general. Organization of society and the estates general (governing body) Only the first three were represented by the estates-general. The third estate represented the largest body of the population, but could by outvoted by the first two. The estates-general was called to meet on may 5th, 1789. In the attempt to prevent or channel anger over the new taxes. The frustration of the third estate (middle classes) over their disenfranchisement because of their lack of a voice (unmundigkeit) led them to convene separately. They met in a nearby indoor tennis court at versailles and made an oath not to leave until they formed a national assembly and began work on a constitution. Tennis court oath of the national assembly, june 17, 1789 (painting by j. l. Behind this act is a radical shift in the way power in the society is to be conceived.
