What is the significance of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is significant because it laid the foundational principles of human rights and civic rights at the heart of the French Revolution. By asserting individual rights, the document emphasized the importance of liberty, equality, and fraternity, which have become guiding principles of modern democracy and civil rights movements worldwide. It marked a shift from the feudal and absolutist structures of governance, emphasizing that sovereignty belonged to the people and that individuals had inherent rights that the government could not infringe upon.

This declaration served as a reference point not only for the French Revolution but also influenced various democratic movements across the globe, reinforcing concepts such as popular sovereignty and the separation of powers. The principles outlined in the document helped establish a framework for modern political thought and were instrumental in future declarations of rights in other nations, making its significance profound in the context of global history.