Final answer:
The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen emphasized liberty, equality before the law, property, security, freedom of expression, religion, and representative government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main principles outlined in the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen include the concepts of natural rights such as liberty, property, and security, as well as asserting the sovereignty of the nation over the monarchy. It proclaims that all male citizens are equal before the law, ensuring equal rights to hold public office, freedom of religion, and a tax system based on one's ability to pay.
Moreover, it calls for freedom of expression, the press, and assembly, all of which were instrumental in securing a representative government and creating a constitutional monarchy in France.
Significant also, is the similarity of the declaration with the U.S. Declaration of Independence, emphasizing the concept of "unalienable rights" such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, both documents primarily applied to White male citizens, excluding women and the enslaved from these declarations. Nonetheless, these declarations had a profound impact on future human rights documents, including the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.