The FrencJi Revolution 409 the decree of the 10th of this month, in order that it may be printed, published, read from the parish pulpits, and posted up wherever it shall be deemed necessary. IV. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen A declaration of the rights of man, which had been demanded by many of the cahiers, was the part of the new constitution which the Assembly decided (August 4) should be first drawn up. The members recognized that they were imitating an American precedent in doing this. Our first state constitutions, several of which were preceded by elaborate bills of rights, had very early been translated into French. Almost every one of the articles in the declaration recalls some abuse of the Ancien Regime. This docu- ment has exercised a great influence upon Europe, and was imitated in many of the constitutions of the nine- teenth century. 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 deter- mined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, inalien- able, 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. 398. Decla- ration of the rights of man.
