in the olden days there was less of a concern on issues that are major today such as kidnapping so kids could walk free for the most part. also the economy was great and horrble
The main purpose of both documents is to assert the rights and freedoms of the people to form their own governments -- governments which will protect their rights as citizens.
Historical context:
The Declaration of Independence (1776) asserted the American colonies' decision to break away from British government. It included the same Enlightenment ideals of natural rights and liberties that would characterize the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen produced later (1789) in France.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen is a fundamental document of the French Revolution, which was written by Abbé Sieyès and the Marquis de Lafayette. Abbé Sieyès was a prominent clergyman in France who supported the rights of the common people. The Marquis de Lafayette was a member of the nobility who had fought in America's war for independence against Britain. Their document was written in consultation with Thomas Jefferson of the United States, who had drafted the Declaration of Independence.
"The people" were originally White, Property-owning Males over 21. They were the only ones that could originally vote. The property owning portion will almost completely be gone by 1828 (this is what helped Andrew Jackson get elected). Non white men will begin being able to vote with the passing of the 15th Amendment after the Civil War. Women will earn suffrage (right to vote) in 1920 with the 19th Amendment. Lastly, we'll lower the voting age to 18 in 1971 with the 26th Amendment, due to the Vietnam War.
