What did the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen Entail?
Adopted by France's National Assembly on August 26, 1789, during the early stages of the French Revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen proclaimed that all men are born free and equal in rights, establishing liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression as fundamental rights.
On August 26, 1789, the French National Assembly signed the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, proclaiming the rights of all French citizens: that all men are created equal, and proclaiming the rights to life, equality, and fraternity.
Within the document, French citizens earned rights to free speech, property, and religion.
Because the declaration was signed during the onset of the French Revolution, from May 5, 1789, to November 9, 1799, it mirrored the vast goals of dismantling the absolute monarchy and feudal system of the Ancien Régime, and replacing them with a society founded on liberty, equality, and fraternity.
For example, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen opposed the previous social hierarchy of the monarchy, and during the fighting, France slowly became a democratic nation.
While the proclamation improved the daily lives of the French, the emancipation of ethnic groups slowly developed.
In 1790, between 5,000 and 7,000 Sephardic Jews were granted French citizenship, while in September 1791, between 28,000 and 33,000 Ashkenazi Jews were granted full French citizenship, reflecting the key description of rights.
Today, the Declaration serves as a backbone for the French National Assembly and social life.
Without the signing of the French Revolution, France would continue to be under a cruel monarchy, rights would be stripped, and gaining French citizenship would serve as a challenge for foreigners.
Overall, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen places equality and freedom as a result of the victories endured by the French Revolution centuries ago.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) Who wrote the Declaration?
The Marquis de Lafayette drafted the initial text, heavily drawing inspiration from Enlightenment philosophy and collaborating with U.S. statesman Thomas Jefferson.
Source: https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Declaration-of-the-Rights-of-Man-and-of-the-Citizen/
2) Did it apply to everyone in 1789?
No, despite its universal language, the original document omitted political rights for women and failed to address or abolish slavery in French colonies at the time of its creation.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2yI_tAgJJk
3) Is the declaration still relevant today?
Yes, its core tenets are explicitly referenced in the preambles of modern French constitutions, including the current Fifth Republic.
Why it matters
Because of the signing of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, France has become a purely democratic nation. French nationals enjoy the freedoms of Democracy, thanks to the challenge to the old governmental structure during the French Revolution.