In the July of 1789 the National Assembly began to plan how to protect and guarantee the individual rights of each person living in the new nation. One possibility was to write a document that has the sole purpose of protecting these rights. These types of documents were brought to the spotlight by British law and was adopted into the United States Constitution shortly after. The National Assembly formed a committee to draft a bill of rights and, on August 26th, 1789, it was born! The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was passed! According to some historians, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is the French Revolutions greatest legacy! The document also served as a preamble to all three revolutionary constitutions. It set goals and standards for many more national governments. These standards were ignored during the revolutions more radical phase.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen had one big sponsor, and his name was Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (what a name). He was a veteran of the American Revolution and a student of the
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Most conservative and Monarchien (that is a constitutional monarchist) rejected the idea for a declaration of rights. However, those people did believe the royal government needed a reform and a limit on its power, but they believed that a bill of rights as a step that was unnecessary and time-consuming. This was thought otherwise by the Assembly’s more radical men. They argued that the new government needs explicit limitations on its power, especially in spots where that power could disrupt the liberties of individuals. Questions were being raised left and right like; Should the document be a part of the constitution? What kind of form should it take? Would it be a philosophical statement or a law-binding set of rules? Should it be a separate