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Declaration Of The Rights Of Man And The Citizen, By Jean-Jacques Rousseau

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The United States Declaration of Independence, written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson, and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, written in 1789 by Marquis de Lafayette, are similar documents in comparison. Although they were written for different reasons, both documents were written to address many problems their people were faced with while emphasizing freedom and equality to each area. First of all, both countries used some type of assembly of men to assist in writing the Declarations--National Assembly in France (Declaration of the Rights of Man) and General Congress in America (Declaration of Independence). Without the consent of the governed, the government becomes a tyranny. Both documents stress the right and protection …show more content…
Both were created by rebellious groups that were not officially part of any government (America- Sons of Liberty; France- National Assembly). Both were influenced by the Enlightenment ideas of freedom: freedom of speech,equality. The Declaration of Rights of Man was influenced by many Enlightenment thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Topic on canvas). Rousseau influenced the Declaration from his ideas of individualism and the Social Contract, “no man has authority over his fellow.” (Source 2). The Declaration of Independence was written before the Declaration of Rights of Man thus the writers of the Declaration of Rights of Man took some of its ideas from the Declaration of Independence. Baron de Montesquieu 's philosophy of separation of powers also contributed to and was included in both …show more content…
The Declaration of Independence refers to the people of the colonies as being free, and outlines how the British monarchy stands in the way of them living freely. This is similar to the first clause of the French Declaration, where it states that all people are free and are to live in equality. Living free and equal would be represented by fair and equal taxes, taxation with representation, and reconstructed governments. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen wanted a change in voting. Each estate would deliberate and each had a single vote. Individual voting versus the traditional one vote by the estate was proposed. (Source 2). Both documents had same demands: Freedom of speech, the inalienable right of liberty, and freedom of religion.“Men are Free” can also be found in both documents. This basically means, no man should be in control of another man. They are born free and they shall remain free till they

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