Compare And Contrast The American Revolution And The Declaration Of The Rights Of Man

John Locke once said, "The end of law is, not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom."1 Throughout history, the fight for human rights has been an on going battle that has been reviewed and adjusted as time progresses. Before the Enlightenment, people believed the government was not protecting humans and their rights. In Europe during the 17th and 18th century, Enlightenment thinkers stepped out of boundaries and challenged the established order. The American Revolution and French Revolution were inspired by ideals of John Locke and other Enlightenment thinkers. The revolutionary documents, The Declaration of Independence and The Declaration of the Rights of Man, illustrate many of the ideals espoused by Locke

In 1773, King George III passed a bill that effected the tea company's negatively. At this point the colonist were extremely frustrated with the British Parliament and enough was enough. In response, a group of militant colonist dressed up as Native Americans and boarded British ships; dumping tones of tea into the Boston Harbor. This famous protest became known as the Boston Tea Party; which escalated into the American Revolution. Towards the end of the American Revolution, the colonies loyalty to the crown was fading faster. In the Spring of 1776, The Continental Congress gathered a group of committees to create a declaration that states the rights of a man. Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, drafted most of the Declaration of Independence. In the Declaration he justifies the colonies independence being inspired by the influential words of John Locke. Jefferson introduces the drafted Declaration to the Continental Congress and on July 2, 1776 the colonies declared Independence from British Parliament. It was not until July 4, 1776 when twelve of the thirteen colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. On July 19th, the final draft of the Declaration was signed by all thirteen colonies; establishing order in the newly independent

The Enlightenment stands for individualism over traditional ideas and changing the view on the world. The Declaration was crafted from ideas of man that believed they deserved nothing about justice in their new states. Jefferson steps out of the traditions and points out the wrong doing of the British Parliament and especially the King. Although the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens also contained Enlightenment ideas, it did not justify the movement as well. This declaration was simply reminding the government about the rights that the citizens already obtain, while the American declaration was trying to create a new