The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a cornerstone of the French Revolution, wasn't just a piece of paper; it was a seismic shift in thinking about individual liberties. Adopted in 1789, it boldly proclaimed inherent rights applicable to all men – liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
Forget divine right! The Declaration asserted that sovereignty resided in the nation, not a monarch. It championed equality before the law, freedom of thought and religion, and the right to a fair trial. Think of it as a foundational document for modern human rights.
While revolutionary, it wasn't perfect. Notably, it excluded women and focused primarily on the rights of men. Despite its limitations, the Declaration of the Rights of Man remains a powerful testament to the enduring human desire for freedom and self-determination, influencing constitutions and human rights declarations worldwide.
