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539 BCE
Cyrus cylinder
The first king of Persia, marked a major advance for the man. He freed slaves, let the people choose their own religion and racial. -
1215
Magna carta
It established the right of widows who owned property to choose not to remarry, and established principles of due process and equality before the law. -
Petition of right
No taxes may be levied without consent of Parliament, no subject may be imprisoned without cause shown reaffirmation of the right of habeas corpus, no soldiers may be quartered upon the citizenry, and martial law may not be used in time of peace. -
United States Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson, wrote the Declaration as a formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain. -
The Constitution of the United States of America
It is the oldest written national constitution in use and defines the principal organs of government and their jurisdictions and the basic rights of citizens. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Proclaims that all citizens are to be guaranteed the rights of liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. -
Bill of Rights
Protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the freedom of assembly and the freedom to petition. -
The First Geneva Convention
Obligation to extend care without discrimination to wounded and sick military personnel and respect for and marking of medical personnel transports -
United Nations
International body to promote peace and prevent future wars -
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Roosevelt, credited with its inspiration, referred to the Declaration as the international Magna Carta for all mankind.
