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Tennis Court Oath 84 85

The Tennis Court Oath took place on June 20th, 1789. Marking
the beginning of France’s first National Assembly, it is a crucial
moment in the French Revolution and for the Declaration. On
this day, more than 300 deputies swore not to go separate ways
until the country’s first constitution was completed. This moment
has been represented in many literatures, paintings, or movies,
with the most widespread representation being Jacques-Louis
David’s ‘The Tennis Court Oath’.

Article 1

The first lines of Article 1: “Men are born and remain free
and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be based only
on considerations of the common good”, summarize the
Declaration. It places liberty as an inalienable right insofar as it
does not harm others, abolishing the notion that some are born

French politics should never return to absolute monarchy. But
King Louis XVI’s with more privileges than others. Another sprouting idea was that
would decide who represented the nation. It was a decisive line
Written Agreement instead be founded on a representative system, where elections
that marked the diminishing role of the King.

The seventeen articles of the Declaration were
completed by August 26th. Still, it needed the
King’s approval to be in effect. Louis XVI continued
his hesitation up to October 5th, until the deputies
pressured him into giving his written agreement on
behalf of the people. It was almost after a month
when the Declaration became legally binding with
the letters patent. Nonetheless, Louis’s small note
Public
is the first document testifying the King’s approval,
broadcast
holding great historical value. On this note, Louis XVI
writes the following sentence: “I accept purely
of Text &
and simply the articles of the Constitution
and Declaration of the rights of
National
man that the Assembly presented
me. October 5th, 1789, Louis”.
Symbol

The Declaration came to be
universally known by the public
through its wide broadcast. It
National Archive of France has been frequently associated

in representations with many
The National Archives is a place of preservation and great value. It Republican symbols, such as the
represents French history and testifies the significance of these documents red cockade.
and their legacy for the nation’s history. The Archives also bestow the
Memory of the World collection.
1) The text of the Declaration, extracted from the minutes of the National Assembly
2) A handwritten note by King Louis XVI (October 5th, 1789)
3) A later copy of the minutes of the Assembly with the 17 articles, with the King’s signature
4) The letters patent (November 3rd, 1789)
5) The 1791 Constitution, where the 1789 Declaration of the rights of man

and of the citizen forms the preamble.
The collection is evidence reflecting various moments of it history: from its
conception, amid many debates within the Assembly, to its execution as
a legally binding document. Part of them are stored in the Iron Chest, an
indestructible and impregnable vault built during the Revolution.