National Constituent Assembly facts for kids

The National Constituent Assembly was a very important group that helped start the French Revolution. It was the first government created by the people who wanted big changes in France. This group was formed by angry peasants and common people who felt they weren't being treated fairly by the king.

How the Assembly Began

Before the Assembly, France was ruled by a king named Louis XVI. He held a big meeting called the Estates General. This meeting was supposed to include representatives from different parts of French society: the clergy (church leaders), the nobility (rich families), and the common people (peasants and others).

During this meeting, the common people, who made up most of France, felt ignored. They wanted more say in how the country was run. King Louis XVI tried to stop their protests by locking them out of their meeting room.

The Tennis Court Oath

Even though they were locked out, the common people didn't give up. They went to a nearby indoor tennis court in Versailles. There, they made a very important promise to each other. This promise is known as the Tennis Court Oath.

In this oath, everyone agreed to work together until they had created a new, fair government for France. This new government was called the National Constituent Assembly. It was a big step towards a more democratic way of ruling, where the people's votes mattered more.

What the Assembly Did

The National Constituent Assembly was a new kind of government for France. It was "semi-democratic," which means it wasn't fully democratic like many governments today, but it was a big step in that direction. Its main goal was to give more power to the people through voting. This was a huge change from having a king who made all the decisions. The Assembly worked to create new laws and a new constitution for France, aiming to make the country fairer for everyone.