Final answer:
The storming of the Bastille was precipitated by economic hardship, demands for political reform, and Enlightenment ideas. The resentment towards royal mismanagement and aspirations for equality and national sovereignty led to the French Revolution's outbreak after the fall of the Bastille.
Step-by-step explanation:
The storming of the Bastille was a critical event that signified the start of the French Revolution. The causes leading up to this moment were multifaceted, involving dire economic conditions, social inequality, and rising revolutionary sentiment. A series of poor harvests and the French Crown's financial crisis pushed many to the brink of starvation. Resentment toward the regime's inability to alleviate the hardship led to widespread unrest.
Attempts to reform the tax system met with resistance from aristocrats, while an increasingly vocal middle class, inspired by Enlightenment ideas of rights and liberties, demanded political change. Dissatisfaction peaked with the formation of militia groups guarding the National Assembly. On July 14th, these militias stormed the Bastille, a symbol of royal despotism, catalyzing the revolution. Following this, the Declaration of the Rights of Man was adopted, emphasizing natural law and the sovereignty of the nation over the king.