The Early Stages

The French Revolution is broken into four stages:

The first stage, the moderate phase of the National Assembly, consists of major events that set the tone for the Revolution. 

The Oath of the Tennis Court - The National Assembly, at this point composed of the third estate joined by some parish priests, was coincidentally locked out of its meeting spot. The Assembly moved to a large indoor tennis court and held their meeting where they pledged not to disband until they had composed a new constitution.

Storming of the Bastille - Poor harvest led to economic depression that crushed the poor and the oppressed (which, at this point, comprised a great amount of the nation's population). Essentially "the straw that broke the camel's back," this crisis pushed the ordinary people into full on revolt against their government. 

In response to rumors that King Louis XVI was planning to disassemble and eliminate the National Assembly, the commoners of Paris invaded the Bastille (a prison) to seize arms and gunpowder. The prison surrendered to the mob and the crowd killed the prison governor and the mayor of Paris, parading their freshly detached heads on spikes.

From this point forward, peasants began to rise up all over France. The revolts of the poor and oppressed were violent, disorganized, spontaneous, and chaotic. However, this insurrection proved effective, especially against the feudal system.

The Great Fear - Due to economic crisis and unemployment rates, and increased number of vagabonds roamed the streets of French towns. Rumors (hey - Vanishing Children) arose that the aristocracy had strategically sent these vagabonds to attack the peasantry and their land. This Fear of vagabonds stoked the fire of the revolution, leading to more violent peasant uprisings against the aristocracy and feudal system.

Decree Abolishing the Feudal System - The first essential triumph of the peasantry during the French Revolution. All the old exactions imposed on the peasants, including serfdom, hunting rights, and village monopolies, were made null and void, and the feudal system was abolished throughout France. This victory boosted morale and motivated further revolt.

 Declaration of the Rights of Man - Issued by the National Assembly on August 27, 1789, the Declaration states mankind's natural rights, and based on those rights, guidelines for proper government and execution of law. Largely influenced by the US Constitution and by Rousseau, the Declaration states that "men are born and remain free and equal in rights." The document further elaborates on these rights, stating that man is naturally entitled to liberty, property, security, and resistant to oppression. It further describes that law is an expression of the general will, and calls for a representative government for a sovereign people, however still calls for a king (which is supposed to benefit the public).

This Declaration sets the tone for the rest of the Revolution, stating the rights that the revolutionaries desire and the ideals for government in which they believe. The rights expressed here are used as a basis for the majority of action taken throughout the Revolution. The battle cry of the French Revolution becomes "Liberté, égalité, fraternité," meaning "liberty, equality, and brotherhood."