The American Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen were both written as statements of independence toward the people’s respective kings, King George and King Louis XVI. While they feature some similitudes, they also contain remarkable differences concerning tone, language, and rights guaranteed. It is important to note that these revolutionary documents’ roots originated with European Enlightenment concepts. Such concepts focused on reason, liberty, and the belief man can govern himself. Needless to say, this was a radical shift from the typical monarchy paradigm prevalent in Europe at the time.
Completed in August 1776, the five-parted Declaration of Independence was written to announce the American …show more content…
While they feature the same basic Enlightenment concepts, such as popular sovereignty, freedom of speech, inalienable rights, etc., the tone in both documents is remarkably different. The American document takes a more dramatized, almost romantic approach, specifying reasons as to how the colonies were violated by their mother country, and even features a proper conclusion. The French document is remarkably drier and more linear; it features no dramatic explanations as to how the French royalty and wealthy exploited the common people. This tonal difference is most likely caused due to the distance between the opposing parties; there was no ocean separating the bourgeois from their violators.
In conclusion, both the French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen and the American Declaration of Independence, written as statements of independence toward the people’s respective kings, King George and King Louis XVI, clearly feature some similarities as far as their Enlightenment-era concepts, such as reason, liberty, and the belief man can govern himself. However, they also contain remarkable differences concerning tone, language, and rights guaranteed. Regardless, these groundbreaking documents would influence world politics and democracy for decades to
Completed in August 1776, the five-parted Declaration of Independence was written to announce the American …show more content…
While they feature the same basic Enlightenment concepts, such as popular sovereignty, freedom of speech, inalienable rights, etc., the tone in both documents is remarkably different. The American document takes a more dramatized, almost romantic approach, specifying reasons as to how the colonies were violated by their mother country, and even features a proper conclusion. The French document is remarkably drier and more linear; it features no dramatic explanations as to how the French royalty and wealthy exploited the common people. This tonal difference is most likely caused due to the distance between the opposing parties; there was no ocean separating the bourgeois from their violators.
In conclusion, both the French Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen and the American Declaration of Independence, written as statements of independence toward the people’s respective kings, King George and King Louis XVI, clearly feature some similarities as far as their Enlightenment-era concepts, such as reason, liberty, and the belief man can govern himself. However, they also contain remarkable differences concerning tone, language, and rights guaranteed. Regardless, these groundbreaking documents would influence world politics and democracy for decades to