Louis XVI called the Estates-General, an assembly of delegates, to Versailles in May of 1789. The king hoped to approve a tax plan, but the delegates couldn't agree on how to vote. Normally, each estate had one vote and two out of the three Estates had to agree for something to pass. The Third Estate wanted each person to have a vote but the other two Estates refused. The Third Estate then dropped from the assembly and declared themselves the National Assembly on June 17,1789. They invited the other Estates to join them. Louis XVI locked them out of their meeting place, so the National Assembly moved to the palace tennis court. They made "The Tennis Court Oath" that they would not leave until they gave France a constitution and Louis XVI recognized them.

Louis XVI gave in and told the clergy and nobles to join the National Assembly. Not wanting to sound weak though, he sent 18,000 soldiers to Versailles. The people feared the soldiers would put an end to the National Assembly and plunder the city. On July 14, 1789 the people of Paris charged the courtyard of Bastille, a stone prison. The guards opened fire and about 100 people were shot. The mayor and prison commander were both killed. Their heads were put on sticks and paraded in the streets. The actions of the people of Paris saved the National Assembly.

People in the countryside soon learned of the happenings in the city. They became afraid of the nobles. Mobs started to burn manors and destroy paperwork. This was called the Great Fear.

Nobles fled to other parts of Europe. Others chose to join the National Assembly.