The Charter of Rights and Freedoms

During the French Revolution, the National Assembly (the group which represented the people, especially the third estate) created a document that was meant to be the foundation of all the laws of the land. This document was called the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen." It guaranteed that when the constitution was made, no laws could come into effect which went against the universal rights of man. The document was based on the philosophical idea that all people are free, as both John Locke and Thomas Hobbes suggested. The writers of the "Declaration of he Rights of Man" agreed with Locke that free people could live together according to reason, and they thought that they could figure out (with reason) how people ought to live together. The document concluded that:

-Everyone over 25 should be able to vote
-Anyone should be able to work for the government no matter which estate they were from
-People should pay less taxes if they don't make as much money
-There should be free speech and freedom of the press (so that you could write what you wanted in the newspaper)

Think of one more right you think the french people should have if they are all free. Tweet that to your classmates.

Canada has a similar document called "The Charter of Rights and Freedoms." Read this handout explaining the charter:

http://www.lawlessons.ca/sites/default/files/handouts/Handout-1-3-1.pdf

And then print off this hand out and answer the questions.

http://www.lawlessons.ca/sites/default/files/handouts/Handout-1-3-2.pdf

Hand this in to the history folder.