Human Rights Notes

Ms. Franco

Examples of Human Rights• What are human rights?

• Should some rights take priority over other rights?• What action should be taken to protect human rights?• Justice: to be treated fairly under the law; administering

deserved punishment or reward.

Early Forms of Government • However, for most of ancient

history, societies have been controlled by a single ruler government (i.e. king, emperor, dictator, etc.).

• Most rulers believed they held their power because of God.– Mandate of Heaven in Ancient

China– Divine Right of Kings in Medieval

Europe• Government and society was

often involved in conflict, war, and conquest.

Age of Enlightenment• Period in the 1600 and 1700s• Period was characterized by an increase

in scientific thinking and reason rather than religion.

• Political philosophers: John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• Fundamental beliefs: every man is born free and therefore is entitled to their life and liberty. In pursuit of happiness, people have the right to own property.

American Revolution• American Revolution: the political revolution that

overthrew a king and created the world’s first federal republic, known as the United States, in 1776.– Declaration of Independence: “all men are created equal

and are born with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

– Bill of Rights: the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution that list basic rights of U.S. citizens.

French Revolution• French Revolution: another king is overthrown

during the democratic revolution in France in 1789– Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is the

equivalent to the U.S.’s Declaration of Independence

State Sovereignty• Modern countries begin to develop,

many with some element of democracy in their government.

• Most countries did not get involved in the affairs of other countries unless there was a conflict between them.

• One of the largest international conflicts begins in 1914 and becomes known as World War I.

• WWI: A war between the countries of France, Britain, U.S. and Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.

League of Nations• After 4 years, and millions of

deaths, World War I ends in 1918.

• After WWI, the League of Nations is created and many countries around the world join.

• The League of Nations primary goal was to maintain international peace and security between countries, so that another conflict like WWI would never happen again.

World War II• Fascism: a political philosophy/movement/regime

that exalts nation and race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictator.– Nazis in Germany, Fascists in Italy

• These fascist movements invaded countries in Europe and started WWII

• During WWII, the Nazis discriminated against, arrested, stole belongings from, and murdered Jews in mass. This event became known as the Holocaust.

• Nazis also committed these crimes against Gyspies, Homosexuals, and political revolutionaries.

United Nations• United Nations is created in 1945

and replaces the League of Nations.• United Nations continues the

mission of the League of Nations, but also turns attention to human rights after the horror of the Holocaust.

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) is a international legal document that outlines basic human rights.

• Geneva Convention meets to implement rules of war (1949).

Social Movements

Civil Rights

Social Movements

Anti- Vietnam War

Social Movements

Fall of the Berlin Wall

Social Movements

Occupy Wall Street

Social Movements

Arab Spring