American Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of Rights :: American America History

American Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of Rights some political documents have affected the world quite like the American Declaration of Independence or the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. The repercussions of individually have had a profound effect on world accounting up to this point. But why did these documents have such an effect? The perform lies in the common philosophical backgrounds of the two. The writings of Rousseau, Locke and Montesquieu all contained thoughts that were later employ by Thomas Jefferson and the National Assembly to compose the two documents.Rousseaus ideas of a social contract, which states that the general will and the tidy sum were sovereign, and if a king abuses the improperness of the people they have a right and a duty to push aside the current government and create a new one (McKay, 581), were cardinal to both documents. Jefferson had Rousseaus ideas in mind when he wrote the Declaration of Indep endence. The history of the preface great power of Great Britain George III is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states...a prince, whose point of reference is thus marked by every act which may set a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people...we therefore...solemnly discharge and declare, that these United Colonies are...independent states... (Jefferson, 1-2). The reasons, such as suspension of colonial legislatures, impressment of American sailors and the importation of mercenaries (Jefferson, 2), given for the dissolution of the political connections that the American and British people have held for over 100 years all relate to the Kings arrogant tendencies and the peoples right to choose a different government. The edict also states that although petitions of grievances were issued, the King turned a deaf ear.The Declaration of the Rights of Man is not simply built on t he social contract, but also on Rousseaus idea of general will of the people. He defines the general will as being, sacred and absolute, reflecting the common interests of the people, who have displaced the monarch as the holder of the sovereign powers. (McKay, 581) liberty chit and enforcing arbitrary laws are considered to be an act of tyranny and a veritable reason, according to Rousseau, to declare the current government void and establish a new one. Article VII clearly states that arbitrary laws and orders cannot exist.