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The Rights of Man: Great Thinkers and Great Movements

Dive into the fascinating story of the rights of man—from the visions of history's greatest philosophers, religious leaders, and political thinkers to the awe-inspiring movements that shattered centuries of inequality.
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The Rights of Man

01: The Rights of Man

Uncover the forces that shaped the evolution of human rights, including the contributions of key individuals and their awe-inspiring visions.

29 min
The Heavy Burden of the Past

02: The Heavy Burden of the Past

Race, gender, class, religious beliefs, politics - these are just a few of the many reasons behind the exploitation of particular groups throughout history. Study these abuses within the context of a historical record that made universal human rights seem virtually impossible.

33 min
Religious Belief—Duties and Rights

03: Religious Belief—Duties and Rights

The world's great religions all promote responsibility for the well-being of others. Discover how they address this issue and offer four important contributions to the rights of man.

30 min
Early Philosophical Contributions

04: Early Philosophical Contributions

Philosophy is also equipped to address human rights. Explore the contributions to the development of the rights of man by early moral and political philosophers, including Confucius, Mencius, Hammurabi, Plato, and Cicero.

30 min
Natural Rights and the Enlightenment

05: Natural Rights and the Enlightenment

The philosophical uproar of the 17th and 18th centuries helped instigate the development of natural rights that all were entitled to claim. Witness the growth of this idea through the efforts of great thinkers like Hugo Grotius, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

31 min
Rights and Revolutions—America and France

06: Rights and Revolutions—America and France

The American and French revolutions were watershed moments in the rights of man. With documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and publications like Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man,", dreams of progress began turning into realities.

31 min
Rights of Man at the 18th Century's End

07: Rights of Man at the 18th Century's End

Look at the enormous gap between the declarations of human rights and their application in post-revolutionary American and French society.

30 min
Abolishing the International Slave Trade

08: Abolishing the International Slave Trade

Discover how the passionate efforts of a few individuals and societies (the first nongovernmental organizations) worked to abolish the international slave trade.

29 min
Emancipating Slaves and Serfs

09: Emancipating Slaves and Serfs

Slavery and serfdom: two ancient institutions of forced labor that began to collapse during the 19th century. Investigate how wars, revolutions, and political upheavals aided moral persuasion and led to freedom for millions of slaves and serfs.

30 min
Promoting the Rights of Women

10: Promoting the Rights of Women

With the abolition of slavery, the struggle for women's rights gained momentum. Follow early crusaders as they developed the women's rights movement that eventually expanded beyond America's borders.

30 min
Advancing the Rights of Workers

11: Advancing the Rights of Workers

The Industrial Revolution called attention to the exploitation of workers and the poor. Consider the ways their rights were addressed through the creation of labor unions, the allure of Communism, and violent revolution.

31 min
Protecting the Rights of the Wounded

12: Protecting the Rights of the Wounded

Explore the development of the rights of wounded victims, from Florence Nightingale's tireless service as a nurse during the Crimean War to the remarkable creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1863.

30 min
Rights of Man as the 20th Century Begins

13: Rights of Man as the 20th Century Begins

The First World War proved enormously destructive for human rights - but also initiated developments that ultimately enhanced these rights.

32 min
Peacemaking and Rights—Paris, 1919

14: Peacemaking and Rights—Paris, 1919

The postwar period saw lingering issues over the rights of racial minorities. Chart the effects of postwar peacemaking, especially the monumental Paris Peace Conference of 1919.

31 min
New Departures for the Rights of Man

15: New Departures for the Rights of Man

The League of Nations addressed secured rights for children, soldiers, and refugees. Explore the conventions, declarations, and organizations that expanded the scope of human rights.

30 min
The Gathering Storm and Attack on Rights

16: The Gathering Storm and Attack on Rights

Survey the severe dangers to the rights of man that took the form of four national movements: the rise of Italian Fascism, Stalin's Great Terror, imperial Japan's lust for conquest, and Nazism under Adolf Hitler.

29 min
War, Genocide, and a Crusade for Rights

17: War, Genocide, and a Crusade for Rights

One of history's most brutal violations of the rights of man was the Holocaust. Yet even during this desperate time of war and genocide, the crusade for human rights never faltered.

31 min
Peacemaking, Rights, and the United Nations

18: Peacemaking, Rights, and the United Nations

Forged in a postwar world shocked by the Holocaust, the United Nations at first did not follow through on promises to recognize human rights. Examine the development of the United Nations and learn how determined groups and nations pressured for recognition of the rights of man in the organization's charter.

30 min
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

19: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Approved in 1948, the United Nations's Universal Declaration of Human Rights marked a defining moment for universal human rights. Follow the declaration's development amid religious, philosophical, and political challenges.

28 min
The Right to Self-Determination

20: The Right to Self-Determination

A critical moment was the wave of decolonization and self-determination that swept across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and other regions of the world. Discover the monumental effects of this process and the new voices it created.

31 min
The Right to Racial Equality

21: The Right to Racial Equality

This lecture addresses the rampant problem of racial prejudice and discrimination through a study of apartheid in South Africa and the civil rights movement in the United States.

29 min
Setting Standards and the Rule of Law

22: Setting Standards and the Rule of Law

Look at a number of significant international treaties that were negotiated, signed, and ratified during the second half of the 20th century.

30 min
Recent Achievements and Challenges

23: Recent Achievements and Challenges

Look at the continued evolution of the rights of man, including the importance of nongovernmental organizations, the development of the International Criminal Court, and concerns about torturing terror suspects.

30 min
The Rights of Man—Past, Present, and Future

24: The Rights of Man—Past, Present, and Future

Reflect on how the rights of man transformed from mere visions to the international treaties of today.

31 min

Overview Course No. 4242

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About

Paul Gordon Lauren

INSTITUTION

The University of Montana
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