A Really Important List

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen begins with a really, really long sentence explaining what it's all about and why it was written. It's the kind of sentence your English teacher would cover in red ink and make you redo. But back then grammar wasn't as defined as it is today, so they could get away with stuff like that.

Next it contains seventeen articles that are a combination of rights that all men and citizens of France have and explanations of how government should work to protect those rights. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is a legal document, basically a bill passed by a congress. Its contents aren't exactly laws, they're more like the foundation that laws will eventually be built on, so it still has that straightforward, legalese-y structure.

How it Breaks Down

Equality, Liberty, and Sovereignty (Sorry, No Mention of Fraternity)

Articles 1-4 all deal with explaining the basic idea that men are equal and therefore should have the liberty to do as they please. In addition to asking to government to butt out and give people more liberty, these articles explain that the government is only there because they've been given the authority by the people (popular sovereignty, y'all).

Layin' Down the Law

Articles 5-9, 16, and 17 all deal with the kinds of laws the government can and can't create and enforce. These all center around the idea of not infringing upon man's liberties or making men unequal. They set the groundwork for a constitution that will (presumably) clarify what exactly the laws are.

Freedoms (Borrowed From the U.S.A.)

Articles 10 and 11 return to the idea of rights to stress the idea of freedom of speech and religion.

Taxes and Guns

Articles 12-15 mention some topics that tend to be a wee bit controversial within governments. They make it clear that a military will be needed to protect people's rights and taxes will have to be collected to maintain a government. These are both carefully explained as being for the people in addition to the promise that they will be conducted fairly.