Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen

Definition

The Declaration is a fundamental document that marked the end phase of the French Revolution and began liberal democracy. It defined individual rights and collective rights as universal.

Analogy

Consider this declaration as your school's code-of-conduct but for an entire nation! Just like how your school rules protect students' rights while promoting equality, this document aimed to do so for all citizens in France.

Related terms

Enlightenment Era: An intellectual movement during the 17th-18th century emphasizing reason, individualism, skepticism about religion; it influenced many revolutionary ideas including those in Declaration.

Constitutional Monarchy: A form of government where monarch's powers are limited by constitution; after French revolution, it replaced absolute monarchy aiming for balance between monarchy & citizen's rights.

National Assembly (France): Revolutionary assembly formed by representatives of Third Estate (commoners) in France. It adopted the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.