Compare And Contrast The English Bill Of Rights And The French Declaration Of The Rights Of Man

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The English Bill of Rights (1689) and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789) are roughly around the same period, in that it is possible to think the both documents share similar ideologies. To the thought’s dismay, it is not. Even if both documents start from the same question of taxation, the outputs vary enormously in that each has different aims: the English Bill of Rights (shortened as the English Bill from now on) only changes the crown and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man (shortened as the French Declaration) changes the whole society. However, they are similar in that both strived for the representation of the masses. Through the English Bill, the Parliament of England wished to replace the evil James the Second …show more content…

In its first article, it states “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good (emphasis mine).” The first part of the paragraph does not exclude any person (while it can be disputed that it is ambiguous with the status of women) and serves the equalization of all people, regardless of the birth. It disposes any assumed privileges of the nobility, and if read in conjunction to the sixth article, is not shy from stating that the source of power or the imperatives of the government rests at the hand of the public. The second part limits the occasion if there is to be one, in that without the great justification, there would be no official distinction that will lead to the faction of the society. Considering France had the aristocracy and the king, it is the biggest shift in power yet to come, in that the mass now controls the steering wheel, which is rarely seen during this period of …show more content…

The Englishmen in the English Bill intended to have their own voices heard in the political system, rather than being ordered. The platform before the Glorious Revolution was weak in that it was under a constant threat of elimination and the power of the King; however, the Glorious Revolution, giving powers to the mass, abled representative policy making, at least in taxes. The French people in the French Declaration also was a result of the practice of nonrepresentational policy making, in that the French government put unbearable burden to the masses, who were the sole payers of numerable taxes to pay for the paternalistic policies that mass did not actively ask for. The platform of the French people was already partially representative, yet the delegates of the central government could override with ease, according to Tocqueville. However, through the French Declaration, the mass finally could have their voices be heard in the National Assembly, which starts off as a representative

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