Author Bio: The author is anonymous, but it appears to be an official document for a set of laws passed by the National Assembly of France. The National Assembly of France was established during the French Revolution. The declaration was created by the National Assembly of France as an attempt to create a constitution.
Date/Context: After the French Revolution, there was a need for a new government. Absolute monarchy and feudalism were recently abolished. The construction of a constitution for the Republic of France was meant to promote equality and eliminate oppression.
Summary: The representatives of the National Assembly of France believed that a new set of laws that would enforce a person's unalienable rights, as well as their duties in society, would create less governmental flaws and more justice for the citizens of the Republic of France. The context of each article in the declaration prevent any form of oppression, injustice, and violence.
Key Quotation: "The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties; in order that the acts of the legislative power, as well as those of the executive power, may be compared at any moment with the objects and purposes of all political institutions and may thus be more respected, and, lastly, in order that the grievances of the citizens, based hereafter upon simple and incontestable principles, shall tend to the maintenance of the constitution and redound to the happiness of all."
It is good how you stated that the author was anonymous. In the author bio, you didn't need to put the second and third sentences, as they could be put into the date/context part. You did a good job summarizing the piece, however some examples of the rights would have been good. The quote is good, but the last sentence in the top would also work, as it directly talks about the rest of the document, or the rights.
ReplyDelete* the last sentence refers to the document itself.
DeleteGenerally, Marquis de Lafayette is credited as the primary author of the DCoRM&C. This document reflects the ideals of the Enlightenment - man is naturally good and should participate in government. The similarities between this document and the Declaration of Independence is not a coincidence - Thomas Jefferson worked closely with Lafayette during the American Revolution.
ReplyDelete