Institutions of Monarchy and Feudalism Were Based

¶ … institutions of monarchy and feudalism were based on the systematic oppression of others through the use of hierarchy. In these forms of governments, there is a strict social and economic order with the rich and powerful at the top and the peasants and serfs on the very bottom of society. This notion is especially true for feudalism, where lords depended on their vassals yet both classes lived off the work of their serfs. Serfs worked the land of their lord in exchange for protection. In this system, however, a serf could not leave his lands without permission; they were economically and legally bound to their lord and land. The status of peasants did not elevate much further from the medieval ages and throughout the era of absolute monarchies. It was not until the late 17th century, during the Age of Enlightenment that these old social hierarchies were questioned. Revolutionaries sought to change the social order in order to elevate the status of the common man, while simultaneously seeking to correct the inequities in the world. These radical thinkers wanted to create a new world order where every man, regardless of social status had equal opportunities. Revolutionaries changed monarchies and the system of feudalism first through edicts and declarations and later through violence.

The Age of Enlightenment propagated ideas of individualism, the social contract between the people and its government, ideas that challenged the current social order and the divine right of kings. These ideas manifested themselves through a variety of doctrines throughout the era such as the Declaration of Independence, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the Tennis Court Oath, and the Cahiers.

The Declaration of Independence, a product of Enlightenment thinkers, directly challenged the British monarchy and introduced radical ideas. The declaration of independence was written with the belief that all humans are created equal and everyone is born with certain unalienable rights, among those are being Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. These were truly revolutionary for the period; ordinary men are declaring they hold the same basic rights as any aristocrat. Not only are regular folks entitled to the same rights as the rich, but all men are born equal and free. The declaration takes these ideas one step further, stating "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."[2] This gives the people the right to revolution, due to the failure of the government to hold their end of the social contract.

These notions are found in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a document that was a precursor for the French Revolution, much like the Declaration of Independence was for the American Revolution. The declaration also states "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good."[3]. Furthermore, men have the right to life and liberty and property. It is the government's role to protect these rights [4].