National Assembly

Definition

The National Assembly was a revolutionary assembly formed by representatives of the Third Estate (the common people) of France during the French Revolution in 1789. It passed laws representing all people rather than just elites.

Related terms

Estates-General: An assembly of representatives from all three estates which hadn't been called for nearly 200 years until summoned by King Louis XVI in 1789 due to financial crisis.

Tennis Court Oath: A pledge made by members of France's National Assembly in 1789 where they vowed to continue meeting until a new constitution was written.

Constitution of 1791: The first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime; it established a constitutional monarchy.