The Gateway Chronicle 2020

59
evident in 1787 and continues to be so today.
The influence of the events in America can
be shown to be significant by events in
France two years after the Constitution
was granted. In 1789, in revolutionary
France with its tripartite foundation of liberty,
equality, and fraternity, the National
Constituent Assembly granted the French
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the
Citizen. This declaration was drafted by
LaFayette, who had been meeting with
one of the American Framers – Thomas
Jefferson. Jefferson clearly influenced this
legislation as it had much in common with
the fundamental principles of the United
States. The principles enacted in France included
many which show how – for a
small window of time until Robespierre’s
‘Reign of Terror’ – the French government
The UK Supreme Court,
founded in 2009 was intent on maintaining the
rule of law as a pillar in its democracy;
the notion of “innocent until
proven guilty” was declared under Article
9, for example. It was this age of Enlightenment,
supported by philosophers such
as Rousseau, which promulgated the notion
of natural rights, originally formulated,
as mentioned, by Cicero during the
Roman times. In France, it was declared
that every man is born free and equal and,
in the American Bill of Rights passed two
years later, there were ten amendments to
the Constitution, each outlining the fundamental
rights endowed to every US citizen.
Therefore, the chiming with the Natural
Law first discussed close to 2000
years before, was now becoming reality
across the world. Even following the Second
World War, the principles in Cicero’s
Natural Law have been formalised: after
the atrocities seen in the war, the Universal
Declaration on Human Rights was
passed through the United Nations.
Therefore, it is evident that the French
Revolution was incredibly important, too,
in establishing the importance of the rule
of law, human rights, and also furthering
the cause of democracy.
Today, the significance of these historical
developments is irrefutable. As well as the
fact that we can take our own governments
to court – as Johnson’s was in last
Autumn – the economic growth
and globalisation seen across the
world was only achieved because
countries and businesses understand
that there is a contract of
law which must be adhered to
and, therefore, individuals and
firms are willing to trade with
each other. The rule of law is
clearly a cornerstone of democracy;
for example, even the UK has
recognised the need for further
progression, establishing a Supreme
Court in 2009 in order to
achieve a further separation of
powers (away from the House of
Lords).
Therefore, although there is always more
to do to restrain power, whilst simultaneously
maintaining effective government, it
is clear that all true democracies have
eventually implemented the rule of law,
and that it is hugely significant in preserving
the rights of people around the world,
and the legitimacy of the governments
that rule them.
Ollie, L6NJC