Document #2 French Revolution (Excerpt from Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen) Articles: 1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good. 2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible [in law] rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. 3. The principle of all sovereignty [supreme power or authority] rests essentially in the nation. No body and no individual may exercise authority which does not emanate expressly from the nation. 6. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents. 9. As all persons are held innocent until they shall have been declared guilty. 11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law. 13. A common contribution is essential for the maintenance of the public forces and for the cost of administration. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means. 16. A society in which the observance of the law is not assured, nor the separation of powers defined, has no constitution at all.

Document #2 French Revolution (Excerpt from Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen) Articles: 1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good. 2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible [in law] rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. 3. The principle of all sovereignty [supreme power or authority] rests essentially in the nation. No body and no individual may exercise authority which does not emanate expressly from the nation. 6. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents. 9. As all persons are held innocent until they shall have been declared guilty. 11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law. 13. A common contribution is essential for the maintenance of the public forces and for the cost of administration. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means. 16. A society in which the observance of the law is not assured, nor the separation of powers defined, has no constitution at all.