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How Did Rousseau Influence The Declaration Of The Rights Of Man And Citizen

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During the French Revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was adopted to establish and proclaim the fundamental rights and freedoms of the French people. As I read it, I can see the influence of Rousseau and his ideas in various pieces of the text, as well as overall general ideas. Throughout the Declaration, I can see Rousseau’s influence in concepts such as the sovereignty of the people, equality, general will, and civil rights and liberties. Rousseau's concept of popular sovereignty, which emphasizes that political power resides in the people, strongly influenced the Declaration. The idea that the source of authority lies with the citizens is evident in the declaration's opening statement, which declares that "men are born and remain free and equal in rights (National Assembly 77)" and that "the principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation (National Assembly 77)." It is further threaded throughout the writing through an emphasis on the the importance of participation and equal opportunity for all to exercise their natural rights. …show more content…

Rousseau argued for the elimination of privileges and social hierarchies, and the declaration reflects this principle by proclaiming that all citizens are equal in the eyes of the law and entitled to the same rights and protections. This is seen in the declaration in the words “the law must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes (National Assembly 78).” It also speaks about all being equally protected and no one doing anything which would harm another, as seen in the words “ Liberty consists in being able to do whatever does not harm another (National Assembly 77).” It draws a line when others are harmed, protecting all and limiting all to make sure people are not

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