The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is a text drafted by the National Constituent Assembly, adopted on August 26, 1789. The Storming of the Bastille on July 14 sent shockwaves through the courts of Europe and marked the beginning of the end for the French monarchy. That same summer, representatives of the people gathered to establish a new constitution. Under the influence of the Marquis de La Fayette, the National Constituent Assembly drafted a text that granted human beings natural, inalienable, and sacred rights. This document, embodying the philosophical ideas of the “Age of Enlightenment,” confirmed the abolition of the old regime and left an immense legacy!
What Is the Definition of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?
After the storming of the Bastille, the National Assembly met in Versailles to draft a new constitution for France. Drawing inspiration from the American Declaration of Independence of 1776, it decided to add a text outlining the fundamental liberties of man. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen solemnly defines the natural and sacred rights that apply to all. It was adopted on August 26, 1789, by the deputies and signed by Louis XVI on October 5, 1789.
Who Drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?
At the end of 1788, France was heavily in debt. To find a solution, Louis XVI convened the Estates-General: an assembly that brought together the nobility, the clergy, and the Third Estate. In June 1789, it transformed into the National Constituent Assembly. In August, the 1,154 deputies, including Mirabeau and La Fayette, drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Once adopted, it was incorporated into the text that established a constitutional monarchy in France.
What Is the Text of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?
Comprising a preamble and seventeen articles, the document establishes the “natural, inalienable, and sacred rights of man.” It acknowledges inherent and unassailable rights, declaring that “men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” It asserts that sovereignty now belongs to the Nation and reaffirms the necessity of the separation of powers. Finally, it introduces the right to property, freedom of opinion and religion, freedom of the press, and the presumption of innocence.
The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties; in order that the acts of the legislative power, as well as those of the executive power, may be compared at any moment with the objects and purposes of all political institutions and may thus be more respected, and, lastly, in order that the grievances of the citizens, based hereafter upon simple and incontestable principles, shall tend to the maintenance of the constitution and redound to the happiness of all. Therefore the National Assembly recognizes and proclaims, in the presence and under the auspices of the Supreme Being, the following rights of man and of the citizen:
Accordingly, the National Assembly acknowledges and declares, in the presence and under the auspices of the Supreme Being, the following rights of man and citizen.
Article 1
Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.
Article 2
The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
Article 3
The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body nor individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.
SourceWhat Analysis Can Be Made of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?
A major event of the French Revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen embodied the ideals of the “Age of Enlightenment.” It aimed to establish a rule of law, but unfortunately, it failed to address the rights of women or the slaves in the colonies. Nevertheless, it inspired many countries worldwide in their pursuit of liberty and equality. In 1948, it even served as the foundation for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly.
What Does Article 35 Say?
On June 24, 1793, the First Republic adopted a new Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. This text put into writing certain revolutionary principles, and new rights emerged, such as the right to resist oppression. Article 35 asserts that popular revolt against a totalitarian power is not only a right but also a duty of the citizen. It states: “When the government violates the rights of the people, insurrection is for the people and for each portion of the people the most sacred of rights and the most indispensable of duties.“
What Is the Value of the 1793 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?
Adopted just weeks before the Reign of Terror, the new Declaration proposed a more egalitarian approach than that of 1789. However, despite its strong symbolic value, it did not acquire legal status. The text was suspended in the year of its adoption by the revolutionary government and repealed in 1795, when a new declaration was drafted. Later, the 1793 document was often cited but never recognized. Today, the 1789 declaration still serves as the foundation of the Fifth Republic. The 1795 declaration, however, introduced the concepts of the separation of powers and a reserve army, which are still in effect today.