I've only written the first half of this paper, but I want your opinion.
List the principles of the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, the American Declaration of Independence, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, and the U.S. Bill of Rights.
A:
The Magna Carta, also known as the "Great Charter," was a feudal government that King John was forced to sign by the English nobles at Runnymede in 1215. Its purpose was to confer more rights on nobles. In later centuries, the Magna Carta was used to limit the monarch's power. Another principle of the Magna Carta can be identified in the provision that reads: "No man shall be taken or imprisoned, or in any way destroyed, not will we go upon him, nor send upon him, except by the legal judgment of his peers or by the law of the land." In other words, this gave rise to the Magna Carta's principle of trial by jury and laid the basis for due process of law.
In 1698, the English Bill of Rights was passed by Parliament. As a result, the English Bill of Rights set forth many principles in its wake, such as representative government—that is, laws made by a group that acts for the people. It established the right for legislature (in this case being the Parliament) to make laws, levy taxes, and command armies, which also became a principle of the English Bill of Rights. Furthermore, the English Bill of Rights founded the right to keep and bear firearms. Like the Magna Carta, it also further established the right to have jury trials.
In 1776, the American Declaration of Independence declared the American colonies free and independent states and amounted to a declaration of war against Great Britain. Nevertheless, within the text of the Declaration of Independence, it sets forth several principles. The first one can be seen in this declaration’s first verse: "All men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuits of happiness; these are unalienable rights— that government cannot be taken away." The second principle of the Declaration of Independence, however, is the idea of popular sovereignty.
Good start.
The principle of popular sovereignty means that the power of government comes from the consent of the governed, in other words, that the people have the right to choose their own government and participate in decision-making. This principle is evident in the Declaration of Independence where it states that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.
Moving on to the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, it was adopted in 1789 during the French Revolution. It is a fundamental document that influenced the development of human rights and constitutional law worldwide. Some key principles of the French Declaration are:
1. The principle of individual rights: The declaration acknowledges and guarantees individual rights such as liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
2. The principle of equality: It states that all citizens are equal before the law, and any distinction based on birth or social status is illegitimate.
3. The principle of popular sovereignty: Like the American Declaration of Independence, the French Declaration emphasizes that sovereignty resides in the people.
4. The principle of separation of powers: The declaration advocates for the separation of powers among different branches of government to prevent tyranny.
Lastly, we have the U.S. Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments were added to protect individual rights and limit the power of the federal government. Some key principles of the U.S. Bill of Rights include:
1. The principle of freedom of speech, religion, and the press: The First Amendment guarantees the right to express oneself, practice any religion, and publish without government interference.
2. The principle of the right to bear arms: The Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to own firearms.
3. The principle of due process of law: The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments ensure that individuals receive fair treatment, including fair trials and protection against arbitrary deprivation of life, liberty, or property.
4. The principle of protection from cruel and unusual punishment: The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.
To complete your paper, I would suggest researching further on each document to ensure you have covered all the principles and their historical context accurately.