In 1789, thousands of starving peasants abandoned their ancestors' lands when the price of bread rose to eighty percent of the average peasant's income (Kreis). Burning buildings marked the path they took to the source of their woes in Paris. They attacked every food cart they came across. From under their dirty and worn clothes you could see the profile of their skeleton. Their poverty had reached its peak. Their desperation drove them to action. They took control of France's largest fortress, the Bastille, in search of weapons. Members of the bourgeoisie had formed the National Assembly three weeks before the storming of the Bastille to begin addressing the peasants' grievances (Dabney). On August 4, the National Assembly met in Paris and, in one fell swoop, with enthusiasm, decided to abolish the feudal system forever, thus gaining the support of the crowd. "The decree of the National Assembly on the abolition of the feudal system" created equality between the nobility and citizens, ended the authority of the Church over the state, and pledged to cooperate with King Louis XVI to correct the injustices of the people. The first written decree declared the elimination of feudalism in France (Roberts). Serfdom and serfdom were abolished without compensation for the lords. The farmers were no longer forced to work in the fields. They were also no longer required to pay the taxes and duties imposed by their masters. The nobility now no longer had any control over their vassals. The farmers set out to discover their fortune and explore their talents in the free market. The Count of Virieu, a member of the National Assembly, subsequently suggested that the right to control pigeon lofts be abolished (Herbert). Because the pigeons destroyed cr......middle of paper......ke. "Materials for the assignment". Story with Mr. Green. 2009. Network. 20 November 2011. .Herbert, Sydney. The fall of feudalism in France. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1969. Print.Kreis, Steven. "Lesson 12: The French Revolution - Moderate Phase, 1789-1792." The Story Guide - Main. 13 May 2004. Web. 03 November 2011. .Roberts, J. M. "Decrees of August 4." Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media. Network. 03 November 2011. "THE FRENCH REVOLUTION." Division of Social Sciences. Network. 06 November 2011. .Whitcombe, Merrick. "Cahier 3." Cahier of 1789, The Third Estate of Versailles. Hanover College History Department, 2001. Web. November 19. 2011. .