The most successful and efficient way for a large population to remain stable is for it to be unified under a single governmental body. But once people are subjected to those governmental powers, the lines between legality and personal freedoms blur. In France, the clear definition of legal freedoms and basic human rights is found in the Declaration of the Rights of Man, written in 1789. The document clearly defines the basic human rights that all citizens of France, and all the citizens of the world for that matter, are entitled to. The Declaration of the Rights of Man is an important document because it clearly states the rights of the formerly oppressed peoples, brought about stability in a time of chaos, had intellectual authors, and is still …show more content…
Marquis de Lafayette was the primary author of the Declaration of rights of Man. As a Frenchman with militaristic and political exposure through his experiences in the French Revolution as well as the American Revolution, Marquis de Lafayette was obviously a qualified author and advocate for this creation (Stockwell, 2017). He was assisted by Thomas Jefferson, who offered great insight since he took part in the drafting of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights only a few years prior (Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, 1996). Having qualified authors helped the Declaration of the Rights of Man be perceived as both legitimate and effective. In fact, the Declaration of the Rights of man was so influential that it is still in effect today. Its contents have Constitutional value in France. Many laws have been rejected or overturned because they do not align with the principles set forth. In France, laws about taxation legislation, discrimination on ethnic grounds, and religious toleration have all been subject to inquiry due to the 1789 declaration (Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen,