The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen stated the principles of the new society in France. These ideas called for individual human rights and grew out of the Enlightenment. A mix of many rich new ideas allowed legal equality, representative government, and individual freedom. The calling for liberty from enlightened thinkers and monarchs also led to The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.
The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, which was issued at the beginning of the French Revolution, created the principles of society. On August 27, 1789, the National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which stated, "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights." The declaration also stated that mankind's natural rights are "liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression" and that "every man is presumed innocent until proven guilty." As for law, it stated, "it is an expression of the general will; all citizens have the right to concur personally or through their representatives in its formation .
Tottenham Citizens Advice Bureau
Commemorative engraving of the bicentenary of the ...
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen of 17.... . Free expression of thoughts and opinions is one of the most precious rights of mankind: every citizen may therefore speak, write, and publish freely." This open-minded and revolutionary document guaranteed equality before the law, representative government for a sovereign people, and individual freedom. Only two pages long, this document was spread throughout France, the rest of Europe, and around the world.
The call for individual human rights and liberty lead to the French Revolution. Liberals from the revolutionary age demanded to worship according to the dictates of their consciences, and wanted an end to censorship. They also sought after freedom from arbitrary laws and from judges who simply obeyed orders from the government. The Declaration of the Rights of Man proclaimed, "Liberty consists in being able...