Individual Rights

Individual rights were a contentious and transformative topic during the French Revolution, primarily enshrined and debated in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on 26 August 1789. This document, inspired by Enlightenment principles and the American Declaration of Independence, established several key individual rights aimed at ensuring liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.

Central to the Declaration was the assertion of the equality of all men; it declared that men are born and remain free with equal rights (Article 1). This radical proclamation challenged the existing hierarchical society based on birth and privilege. By affirming legal equality (before the law), it sought to eradicate the vestiges of feudal privileges.

Freedom of speech and the press were also highlighted (Article 11), recognizing that every citizen may speak, write and publish freely, provided they respect established laws. This right represented a significant shift from the restrictive controls and censorship prevalent under the Ancien Régime, thus fostering a more open discourse.

The right to property (Article 2) was another cornerstone. It held that property was inviolable and sacred, thus stating that no one could be deprived of it unless public necessity, legally determined, evidently required it, and just and prior indemnity had been granted. This protected private ownership against arbitrary seizure, which was a common occurrence under the previous regime.

Security (Article 2) was defined as a fundamental right. The document articulated the necessity for a regular and ordinary law enforcement mechanism to protect citizens against harm and to preserve public order. This was aimed at preventing abuses by the state or any other forms of arbitrary threats to an individual’s safety.

Another significant right was the protection against unreasonable detention (Article 7), which established that no one could be accused, arrested, or held in custody except in the cases determined by the law. This principle aimed to end arbitrary and oppressive legal practices, ensuring a fairer judicial process.

Lastly, the notion of resistance to oppression (Article 2) addressed that when the government violates the rights of the people, insurrection becomes a duty. This article suggested that citizens had not only a right but an obligation to oppose and overthrow any form of tyranny.

These rights marked a profound shift in societal values and governance during the French Revolution. They reflected the period’s drive towards individual autonomy, legal equality, and a more just and transparent system of governance. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various modern constitutions draw heavily from these revolutionary concepts, underscoring their lasting impact.

• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (adopted on 26 August 1789) asserted that 'men are born free and equal in rights,' which was revolutionary as it shifted the basis of law from monarchic privilege to individual rights.
• Influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau and Voltaire, the French Revolution sparked discussions about personal freedoms and civil liberties, leading to a ripple effect in human rights movements globally.
• Despite the revolutionary ideals, the Reign of Terror (1793-1794) saw thousands executed, often as perceived threats to the revolution, showcasing a paradox where the quest for individual rights led to suppression of dissent.
• Women played a significant role in advocating for individual rights; figures like Olympe de Gouges wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen in 1791 to highlight gender inequalities in the revolutionary framework.
• The revolution led to the abolition of feudal privileges, allowing individuals to own land, thus directly challenging centuries of aristocratic dominance and promoting the notion of personal property rights.