In the 1780's, France was facing bankruptcy due to many failed wars against Britain, as well as having spent over a billion livers on supporting the war effort in the us, and the third estate (the commoners) were burdened with all the taxes, as the nobility paid hardly any taxes. In 1788, a horrible winter occurred, resulting in low harvests, and the price of bread raised, angering the commoners.

Without bread or the money to purchase it, how will we survive?

In June of 1789, a meeting of the Estates General was called in Versailles, the first since 1614. In the meeting, King Louis XVI reviewed the circumstances which led to country to this point. Necker, the Minister of Finances, proposed that new taxes would be enough to make up for the budget deficit of 56 million, but the third estate would have none of the mediocre discourse, and decided to take things into their own hands.

These new taxes shall pay France's debt!

We've had enough of this discourse!

The Third Estate and some clergy who had joined them, went to the meeting hall only to find it locked. Suspecting that a plot was brewing, they rushed to a nearby tennis court, and swore that they would not disband until they had created a constitution that would the power into the hands of the people.

We shall not stop until the power is in the hands of the people.

The National Assembly took its idea of a new constitution to the king, who, looking liked he yield, legalized the National Assembly. He then proceeded to surround Versailles with troops and sent 250 barrels of gunpowder to Bernard-René Jordan de Launay, the military commander at the Bastille, who feared that the people of Paris would rebel. A few days later, the Bastille was overwhelmed by the people of Paris armed with muskets, swords and various other weapons, Launay would surrender and was to be trialed, only to be murdered by a mob, and the people of Paris proceeded to tear down the Bastille, brick by brick.

Down With the king's men!

Storm the Bastille!

In 1795, a new constitution was introduced called the Declaration of the Rights to Man and of the Citizen. The basic principle of the new constitution was that all  “men are born and remain free and equal in rights”, which were specified as the rights of liberty, inviolability of a person, private property, and resistance to oppression. All citizens were to be equal before the law and were able to participate in legislative affairs.

Finally, the power is in the hands of the people.