Only July 14, 1789, people in Paris, France attacked a prison holding political prisoners. This marked the start of the French Revolution. In 1791, France’s National Assembly passed laws and the Declaration of the Rights of Man which declared all people of France equal under the law. The National Assembly’s declaration had ideas similar to what document?
Declaration of Independence
Magna Carta
English Bill of Rights
Enlightenment
And you think … ?
I think its Magna Carta
To determine which document had ideas similar to the Declaration of the Rights of Man, we can start by examining each of the options provided: the Declaration of Independence, Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, and Enlightenment.
1. Declaration of Independence: The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the American Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, declaring the thirteen American colonies as independent states from British rule. While it is a foundational document of American history, it primarily focuses on justifying the colonies' separation from Britain and outlining their grievances, rather than establishing rights and equality.
2. Magna Carta: The Magna Carta, also known as the Great Charter, was signed by King John of England in 1215. It is considered one of the first documents in the world to establish the principle of the rule of law and limit the power of the monarchy. Although it contained important provisions safeguarding individual liberties, such as protecting certain rights for nobles and establishing legal rights and due process, its scope was limited to specific privileged groups and did not directly address equality for all people.
3. English Bill of Rights: The English Bill of Rights, enacted in 1689, laid out the rights and liberties of the English people and the limits of the monarchy's power. It guarantees fundamental freedoms, such as the right to petition, fair and speedy trials, and protection against cruel and unusual punishment. However, like the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights was primarily concerned with limiting monarchical authority rather than establishing broad equality for the entire population.
4. Enlightenment: The Enlightenment was a philosophical and intellectual movement in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. It sought to promote reason, individualism, and progress, advocating for natural rights, equality, and the separation of powers. While the Enlightenment itself wasn't a specific document, the ideas associated with this movement influenced the drafting of various documents, including the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
Based on the options provided, the document whose ideas were similar to the Declaration of the Rights of Man is the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment's emphasis on natural rights, equality, and the belief in individual freedoms had a profound influence on the development of the French Revolution and the subsequent Declaration of the Rights of Man.