Declaration Of The Rights Of Man Essay

955 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Creation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man

Written as the French Revolution was beginning, the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen”was drawn up by the National Assembly to solidify the principles of the revolution. It boldly stated to the king and nobility of France that the people would actively take their rightful freedom and equality.The Declaration also included the relatively novel idea of inalienable rights. And like all treatises written during times of turmoil, they have a historic background driving its creation. At the peak of the revolutionary period, the masses of France had been galvanized by new ideas of the enlightenment. Rousseau’s ideas on human rights and the ideas of independence from the American Revolution seemed particularly enticing to the third …show more content…

The very first right listed in the Declaration is that all “men are born and remain free” and is meant to undermine the position of the nobility and the monarchy who were seen to have a higher birth than of the commoners (22). The right continues to jab at the second estate by declaring “social distinction [should] be based only upon public utility” as most nobles were just deadweights the peasants had to provide for. Despite being a noble himself, Lafayette had proven to be a man of the masses. He had experience much suffering in his childhood and worked side by side with people of common heritage to defend the weak from an oppressive tyranny in the American Revolution. In the eyes of the third estate, Lafayette had “supersed[ed his] ancestral claims of crown and nobility” and joined their ranks (Alpaugh 578). Returning from America, Lafayette still had the desire to strive for change and “made the initial proposal for a declaration” after Bastille (Maslan 358). As the author to another important declaration, Thomas Jefferson was the perfect person to help draft the Declaration of Rights of Man and his influence can be seen in the second listed point. Although the “imprescriptible rights” are analogous to Jefferson’s inalienable rights from the Declaration of

Show More
Related

  • Comparing the French and American Revolutions

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    The enlightenment ideas affected politics for both the French and the American peoples through the form of government and individual rights. Thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, believed in the individual right of man as a citizen of a sovereign nation. In 1789, Marquis de Lafayette used Rousseau and other free thinker’s ideas to draft his Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen to the National Constituent Assembly in France (http://www.pbs.org/marieantoinette/revolution/america_france.html). This established universal rights for individuals that always existed at all times. The document shows many similarities to American documents such as the declaration of Human Rights in the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. For instance, they all show a relationship through the declaration of individual rights such as free speech and freedom of religion. However, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen focuses more on individualism while American documents focus more on a community “We the People” (http://www.pbs.org/marieantoin...

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The French Declaration Of The Rights Of Man

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Declaration of the Rights of Man was formed and intended in 1789 by the National Assembly of France to be the very backbone for the constitution. This allowed the nation of France to become liberated and achieve a more secure and structured society by changing from that of an absolute monarchy to a more constitutional democracy. France sought to gain equality and freedom for all individuals; after being fed up with the constant corruption for so long. France managed to successfully obtain an equal nation and government, in which power was given to the people and not to some tyrannical or dictatorial figure.

    Read More

  • Comparison between the Bolshevik Revolution and French Revolution

    659 Words  | 2 Pages

    The ideas of change in the French Revolution came from Jean- Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau, from his book, Discourse on the Moral Effect of the Arts and Sciences, had the idea that civilization corrupted people and had once said “Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains”. His ideas were the beginning of socialism. He believed in the common good. More extremely, there was Karl Marx (1818 – 1883) who fueled ideas for the Russian Revolution. He was the Father of Communism, a more radical form of socialism. Those who followed Rousseau’s and Marx’s ideas felt that the...

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The American Revolution And The Enlightenment

    703 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the King of England began to infringe on the colonists’ liberties, leaders inspired by the enlightenment grouped together to defend the rights of the American colonies. As Thomas Jefferson writes in the Declaration of Independence, “History of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States” (Jefferson 778). The citizens of France, inspired by the enlightenment, desired a government run by the people. Marquis de Lafayette wrote, “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights; social distinctions may be based only upon general usefulness” (de Lafayette 783).

    Read More

  • History of the Declaration of Independence and The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    In one corner we have a nation, fed up with the corruption and constant bullying of their big brother nation, seeking the approval of the world for a revolution. In the other corner we have a nation, bent on gaining the equality among all individuals in their state, coming together to lay down the law to their king. Both America and France had a thirst for a new equal nation and government in which power was given to the people and not to a tyrannical figure. Individuals from both of these countries sat down and wrote up a letter of declaration in demand of the freedom that they so rightfully deserved. Both of them won that freedom, as the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen flourished with success in the late 18th century. ‘How did these two important documents come about’ is the question we should be asking ourselves. What separated these two monumental letters from each other? What gave each of them their fire, their spark to gain their rights to liberty? America’s Declaration of Independence focused more on America gaining sole ownership of their nation, abolishing their connections with the British and their tyrant King George, and setting up their own government based on Natural law and equality among all men. France’s Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen confronted the king on his neglect to the equal rights of man, laid down the basic principles of how the nation should be run, and proclaimed that the nation should be and is going to be run by the people for the people. With those key differences stated as well as several other small values, such as taxation, oppression, and security, my concern is how both methods worked so efficiently given their varianc...

    Read More

  • French Declaration Of The Rights Of Man And Citizen

    749 Words  | 2 Pages

    The French Revolution was a tumultuous period, with France exhibiting a more fractured social structure than the United States. In response, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen proposed that “ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities, and of the corruption of governments” (National Assembly). This language indicates that the document, like its counterpart in the United States, sought to state the rights of men explicitly, so no doubt existed as to the nature of these rights. As France was the center of the Enlightenment, so the Enlightenment ideals of individuality and deism are clearly expressed in the language of the document. The National Assembly stated its case “in

    Read More

  • Bill of Rights & Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Bill of Rights and Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen are based on the same principles of natural rights; therefore each document is similar in protecting the people's natural rights. However, despite their similarities, their differences are apparent due to the social situations in which they were adopted. The Bill of Rights stood to protect the freedoms of each individual by establishing a democratic government. The French Revolution eliminated the hierarchy of class and established equality among men with the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. Several influences from past philosophers and documents assisted the frame work of the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Rights and Citizen.

    Read More

  • The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizens, 1789

    879 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizens, 1789 Works Cited Missing The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens was formed by the National Assembly on 27th August 1789. It was intended by the National Assembly to be the preliminary statement of principles which the constitution should be modelled. Thus allowing the nation of France to be liberated and achieve a secure structure to their society.

    Read More

  • The Declaration of Independence

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    In The Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson asserted that “all men are created equal […] with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness.” that became underlying principles of our modern society (80). However, one may argue that The Declaration of Independence neither promoted equality nor justice among humankind, because both before and after the American Revolution slaves and women did not have the same rights as men. Nevertheless, Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence might have influenced Douglass’s quest for justice in terms of commitment to human rights and equality.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The English Bill Of Rights And The French Declaration Of The Rights Of Man

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    The English Bill of Rights (1689) and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789) are roughly around the same period, in that it is possible to think the both documents share similar ideologies. To the thought’s dismay, it is not. Even if both documents start from the same question of taxation, the outputs vary enormously in that each has different aims: the English Bill of Rights (shortened as the English Bill from now on) only changes the crown and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man (shortened as the French Declaration) changes the whole society. However, they are similar in that both strived for the representation of the masses.

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Declaration of Independence

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is the Declaration of Independence? The declaration of independence states that all individuals have inalienable rights, requiring life, liberty, and property, a document by which the thirteen colonies proclaimed their independence from Great Britain. If these rights are not protected, people have the right to abolish the government and institute a new one that is willing to secure those rights and their happiness. The declaration was written by Jefferson when he had the vision that America should be liberal. While liberals wanted to over through the government, conservatives believed that not every person should receive the same privilege, not every person is the same and therefore, not every person should be created equal. America is viewed as a liberal state. Thomas Jefferson once said, “When the people fear the government, there is tyranny, when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” This was the strongest reason for the people to bear arms, so that they can be protected from tyranny in the government. People wanted their independence.

    Read More

  • Locke and Rousseau

    1787 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...eing mandated for protection. Rousseau’s conception of liberty is more dynamic. Starting from all humans being free, Rousseau conceives of the transition to civil society as the thorough enslavement of humans, with society acting as a corrupting force on Rousseau’s strong and independent natural man. Subsequently, Rousseau tries to reacquaint the individual with its lost freedom. The trajectory of Rousseau’s freedom is more compelling in that it challenges the static notion of freedom as a fixed concept. It perceives that inadvertently freedom can be transformed from perfectly available to largely unnoticeably deprived, and as something that changes and requires active attention to preserve. In this, Rousseau’s conception of liberty emerges as more compelling and interesting than Locke’s despite the Lockean interpretation dominating contemporary civil society.

    Read More

  • Response To Jefferson's Declaration Of Independence

    1755 Words  | 4 Pages

    Jefferson expressed his concerns and disagreements with the king in the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson's main points focused on the lack of natural rights the colonists were granted. With the natural rights of the people removed the people and the government would not be able to function. When the king eliminated freedoms that colonists once had he stripped them of their grounds for life. Jefferson also focused on equality. He stated that all men were created equal and by equality he meant that all men (and women) rich or poor all had God given rights that no person should be able to restrict them from having.

    Read More

  • The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

    1183 Words  | 3 Pages

    On August 26, 1789, the assembly issued the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.” Through judicial matters, this document was written in order to secure due process and to create self-government among the French citizens. This document offered to the world and especially to the French citizens a summary of the morals and values of the Revolution, while in turn justifying the destruction of a government; especially in this case the French government, based upon autocracy of the ruler and advantage. The formation of a new government based upon the indisputable rights of the individuals of France through liberty and political uniformity.

    Read More

  • Declaration Of Independence Importance

    1678 Words  | 4 Pages

    World Studies Summer Homework Analytic Essay The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen has tremendous importance to the French History, as well as the Declaration of Independence has significant importance to the history of the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence had a huge significance to the United States, as the document declared our independence from Great Britain. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen limits the power of the crown, and authority of the government, and gives more freedom to citizens from the government and crown. Both documents have great importance, in both the United States, and French history.

    Read More

More about Declaration Of The Rights Of Man Essay

Open Document