French Revolution: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

The French Revolution era witnessed fiery debates over constitutional reform, crucially captured in Jean-Paul Marat’s critique of the National Assembly’s Constitution. Marat's views, published in L’Ami du peuple, highlight the stark social disparity and the influence of wealth on governance, asserting that the poor and oppressed would need radical action to achieve lasting change. This historical perspective is vital for students studying the ideological conflicts and the implementation of fundamental rights, such as those enshrined in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789), for understanding the birth of modern political thought.

Jean-Paul Marat’s Radical Commentary on the National Assembly’s Constitution and the Rights of Man (1789-1791)

• Jean-Paul Marat, the influential voice of the populace, fiercely critiqued the new constitutional framework for favouring the affluent over the common citizen.

  The revolutionary firebrand, Jean-Paul Marat, utilized his powerful newspaper, L’Ami du peuple (The Friend of the People), to champion the cause of the underprivileged masses and cast severe doubt on the sincerity of the ruling elite.

  • (i) Marat was an outspoken revolutionary journalist whose publications were dedicated to voicing the anxieties and demands of the common people, often directly challenging the authority of the political establishment.
  • (ii) His main target was the Constitution drafted by the National Assembly, which he saw as a betrayal of the revolution’s promise of equality, arguing that the legislative power had been handed primarily to the rich.
  • (iii) Marat vehemently argued that true improvement for the poor and oppressed would never be secured solely through peaceful, institutional means controlled by vested interests.

• Marat's Assertion: How Wealth Distorts Revolutionary Lawmaking

  Marat's commentary was a direct accusation that the National Assembly had replaced the yoke of the aristocracy with the tyranny of the wealthy, proving that economic power fundamentally corrupted the new legal framework.

  • The Problem of Representation: The Rich Governing the Nation

    Marat lamented the fact that the crucial task of determining the nation’s future had been placed solely in the hands of the affluent, believing their class interests would inevitably supersede the needs of the majority.

    • (i) He famously declared that the "task of representing the people has been given to the rich," establishing a fundamental conflict of interest at the heart of the new government.
    • (ii) Marat saw this composition as "absolute proof of how wealth influences the law," suggesting that legislation would be tailored to protect property and privilege rather than promote general welfare.
    • (iii) He maintained that laws would only retain their authority "as long as the people agree to obey them," subtly foreshadowing the potential for future uprisings if the needs of the masses were ignored.

  • Prophecy of Uprising: Overthrowing the Aristocrats and Owners of Wealth

    In a powerful statement reflecting the revolutionary sentiment, Marat predicted that the people, having successfully cast off the oppression of the aristocrats, would soon recognize and overthrow the power held by the owners of wealth as well.

    • (a) This view underscored his radical belief that economic inequality was the next great barrier to true liberty, following the collapse of the Old Regime's social hierarchy.
    • (b) Marat essentially provided an ideological justification for the subsequent, more radical phases of the French Revolution that would target economic elites.
    • (c) His writings served as a crucial catalyst, inspiring the sans-culottes and solidifying the view that the revolution was incomplete until political and economic equality were fully realized.

• 

  The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: Fundamental Principles of the New Order

  Adopted in August 1789, this landmark document established the core philosophical tenets of the French Revolution, outlining the universal rights that governments must uphold for all individuals.

  • Foundational Articles: Defining Liberty, Equality, and Security

    The Declaration articulated the core rights inherent to every human being, shifting the basis of political legitimacy from divine right to the natural and inalienable rights of the individual.

    • (i) Article 1 sets the fundamental tone: "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights," explicitly abolishing the legal distinctions of the Old Regime.
    • (ii) Article 2 clearly defines the purpose of political association: to preserve the natural and inalienable rights of man, which are unequivocally listed as Liberty, Property, Security, and the critical right of Resistance to oppression.
    • (iii) Article 3 addresses sovereignty, declaring that its source resides only in the nation, ensuring that no individual or group can exercise authority without deriving it from the people.

  • Defining Law, Citizenship, and Freedom of Expression

    The Declaration outlined a new legal philosophy where law was a reflection of the collective will, guaranteeing citizens the right to participate and securing fundamental freedoms against state overreach.

    • (a) Article 4 defines Liberty practically, stating it "consists of the power to do whatever is not injurious to others," while Article 5 limits the power of the law to only forbid actions that are injurious to society.
    • (b) Article 6 establishes the concept that Law is the expression of the general will, asserting that all citizens must have the right to participate in its formation, either Personally or Through their representatives, ensuring All citizens are equal before the law.
    • (c) Article 7 and Article 11 secure personal safety and freedom of thought: No one may be arrested or detained except by law (Article 7), and every citizen may speak, write, and print freely (Article 11), though they must accept responsibility for abuses of this liberty as legally determined.

  • 

    Taxation and Property Rights: The Balance of Public Need and Private Ownership

    The Declaration addressed the contentious issues of public finance and property, attempting to balance the need for state revenue with the protection of private wealth, a key point of tension for critics like Marat.

    • Article 12 (Common Tax): For the necessary maintenance of public force and administrative expenses, a common tax is indispensable; this tax must be assessed equally on all citizens in proportion to their means, formalizing the end of the tax exemptions enjoyed by the privileged estates.
    • Article 17 (Inviolable Property): Property is declared a sacred and inviolable right. This protection is absolute unless a legally established public necessity requires deprivation, in which case just compensation must be provided in advance, firmly establishing the principle of eminent domain under law.

• Summary: The Enduring Conflict Between Constitutional Ideals and Economic Reality

  The combined study of Jean-Paul Marat's radical critique and the ideals of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789) provides essential insight into the core ideological struggle of the French Revolution. While the Declaration established noble concepts of Liberty, Equality, and inviolable Property, Marat's unwavering voice in L’Ami du peuple highlighted how the dominance of the rich in the National Assembly’s constitutional drafting betrayed these principles in practice. This conflict between revolutionary ideals and economic reality is critically important for students of history and political science to understand the origins of subsequent social and economic movements that sought to truly liberate the poor and oppressed.