The affirmation of the RightS

The Declaration of the Rights

The Declaration of the Rights

Two early American articles, the Constitution and the Declaration of self-reliance have, over the past 200 years, leveraged a great number of popular concepts and institutions. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen and the Universal affirmation of Human privileges share numerous obvious likenesses to both the Declaration of self-reliance and the Constitution.

Puritan and pioneer morality

Value of the individual

Achievement and success

Ethical equality

Effort and optimism

Efficiency, practicality and pragmatism

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was in writing by the Marquis de Lafayette, approved by the nationwide Assembly of France in 1789, and provided significance to the revolutionary bawl "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity." The Universal Declaration of Human privileges was in writing on December 10, 1948 by the General Assembly of the joined Nations. Its purpose was to make known the "standards" for living set by the members of the United Nations. (Johannes , 1999)

Although there are many similarities between the two American documents and the two later documents, only four are the most impacting and relevant. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 17.1, "Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others." This is taken from the Declaration of Independence, "...that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." At the time of the Declaration of Independence, the pursuit of happiness referred to the right to own land, or the right to be/become someone. Accordingly, this important issue is addressed in both documents; that every man has the privilege to own land. Another point is brought up in both of the documents, and that our country consistently prides itself on is the freedom of religion. Article 18 of the Universal affirmation of Human privileges states that, "Everyone has the right to flexibility of considered, conscience and belief; this right includes flexibility to change belief or conviction, and flexibility, either solely or in community with others and in public or personal, to manifest belief or belief in educating, perform, adoration and observance." This identical point is addressed in the 1st Amendment of the Constitution: "Congress shall make no regulation highly regarding an establishment of religion..." This freedom of religion is really what our country was founded on. The puritans came from England in the 1600's to escape devout persecution, but it had lived long before that. This "freedom of religion" allows our country to generally be a safe haven against religious persecution. Another striking similarity is in Article 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty..." This same idea is implied in Amendments 4-8 of the Constitution: Article XI especially, identifies trial specifics, "...the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been ...