Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen

Adopting many Enlightenment philosophies such as the idea of natural rights and the social contract, the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, a fundamental document in the French Revolution, defined a set of universal rights collective to all three estates.

1. Men are equal in rights - any social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.

2. goal of all political association is the preservation of natural rights - liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression

3. sovereignty resides in the nation - no body cannot exercise any authority not proceeded from the nation.

4. Liberty = freedom to do anything that doesnt harm others

5. Law can only prohibit actions harmful to society

6. Law is the expression of the general will of every citizen

7. No one will be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except in cases prescribed by the law

8. Law shall provide punishments necessary

9. All persons are held innocent until proven guilty, law represses any harshness to prisoners not yet found guilty.

10. No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions

11. Free communication of ideas and opinions is a key right of man

12. Security of man and citizen requires public military forces

13. common contribution is essential for maintenance of public forces and costs of administration

14. citizens have the right to decide their representation

15. society has the right to require of every public agent an account of his administration

16. a society where law is not observed, has no constitution

17. property is an inviolable and sacred right - shall not be deprived