Student Paper
F992-10
Fall 1999, Section II
Reviewer comments
The history of Europe is one of conflict. Battles of swords and tongues have rages for any and all reasons. Recently, though, a more important conflict has arisen. The rise of the individual in modern Europe has overshadowed any war that took place before. The rise of the individual in modern Europe has been a long fought battle filled with much pain and suffering.
The first great step in the advancement of the individual in modern Europe was the creation of government constitutions. These crucial documents began a series of revolutions in the role and rights of individuals. The first was the Commonwealth Instrument of Government, England's first constitutional plan, which was written in 1653. This constitution gave the people a clear cut idea what was legal and illegal in society. This was the first case of such a document being drafted by a governing body. Other countries followed suit when they decided the roles of their government.1
The next big advancement in the role of individuals was the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679. This act took away the ability to detain persons without cause. Though it seems to be of little consequence, this act is as important to individual rights as any other could be. Before this act was written, it was possible for someone to be arrested for no reason or cause and be held indefinitely without ever being charged or even told why. This act came into being after the public pressure forced the English parliament to do something about false imprisonment and brutality in prisons.2
Following shortly on the heels of the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, the English Bill of Rights of 1689 became one of the most important documents in the advancement of the rights of individuals. This document became the one to which many countries of Europe would follow when rebuilding or restructuring their governments. The Bill of Rights is the holy grail of individualism because it points out exactly what can and can not be done in society. It also protects anyone under the jurisdiction of the bill from undue prosecution under the law.3 Combined with the Habeas Corpus Act and the Commonwealth Instrument of Government, an individual realizes that their place in society is limited not by what they are forced to do but what they can do. There is only one group of people to whom these individual rights and freedoms did not apply to: women.
The struggle of women to succeed as individuals for out weights the struggle of men in European society. While men fought for their property, women were considered property. One of the most significant advances in the rights of women was that of the right to divorce their husband. Like other strange freedoms, this one was more revolutionary in the time period and place in which it was written. Before the possibility of divorce, women had to stay married to their husband so long as he was alive. Abusive husbands were normal, and sometimes encouraged.4 One of the people who suffered for their beliefs about the place of women in society was Olympe de Gouge. She challenged the standing and beliefs of women in France in 1791. After writing that women were not inferior to men, she was arrested and charged with treason. Olympe de Gouge was executed for her beliefs in November of 1791. 5
Though women faced a tough time, another great advancement was made in the rights of children. Though women faced a tough time, another great advancement was made in the rights of children. Children face the unenviable problem of not being able to defend themselves. Many times before the late 1800's they were exploited into working high risk jobs for very little money. Often they were forced to work in mines where they would work long hours in stifling conditions.6 Around that time governments were also beginning to wonder about the working conditions the populace worked in. Many facilities were found to be hazardous to the workers' health. Laws were enacted to keep children out of high risk jobs and to make working conditions better and work days shorter. The changes came too late for many who had already lost their lives trying to make it through life. In the end, the advancements of the futrue rested on the corpses of the past.
The individual right to vote was under hot debate once constitutions came into effect. The people reasoned that should have a say in the government if they lived under it. The only question then was to decide who was going to vote. People of high standing automatically got to vote because they were treated as special people. Tax payers received a vote because they kept the government going.7 After several uprisings, all adult males received the ability to vote. Women had several uprisings once they began coming into prominence as actual citizens instead of just property. They then received the right to vote. The ability to vote for important offices in the government topped off the ability to be an individual in society. It gave citizens the ways and means to change their lives without having to revolt and risk injury to themselves.
The struggle for indivdual freedom has been a long fought battle that has caused many peopel pain and suffering. The battle though, in the end is worth it because it gives people something to believe in and to fight for in their lives. It touches the very depth of our souls and inspires us to go out and achieve great things.
1. Commonwealth Instrument of Government http://www.fordham.edu/halsall.mod.1653insturmentgovt.html
2. Habeas Corpus Act http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1679habeascorp.html
3. English Bill of Rights http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/england.htm
4. Women and the Commune of Paris http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/kelly/Pew/Women/commune.htm
5. Declaration of the Rights of Women http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1791degouge1.html
6. Women Miners in the English Coal Pits http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1842womenminers.html
7. Commonwealth Instrument of Government http://www.fordham.edu/halsall.mod.1653insturmentgovt.html
Bibliography
Commonwealth Instrument of Government, http://www. fordham.edu/halsall.mod.1653insturmentgovt.html
English Bill of Rights http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/england.htm
Habeas Corpus Act http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1679habeascorp.html
Olympe Degouge, Declaration of the Rights of Women, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1791degouge1.html
Women and the Commune of Paris http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/kelly/Pew/Women/commune.htm
Women Miners in the English Coal Pits http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1842womenminers.html