"Freeborn" is a term associated with political agitatorJohn Lilburne (1614–1657), a member of theLevellers, a 17th-century English political party. As a word, "freeborn" means born free, rather than inslavery orbondage orvassalage. Lilburne argued for basic human rights that he termed "freeborn rights", which he defined as beingrights that every human being is born with, as opposed to rights bestowed by government or by human law.[1] John Lilburne's concept of freeborn rights, and the writings ofRichard Overton another Leveller, may have influenced the concept ofunalienable rights,[2] (Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.) mentioned in theUnited States Declaration of Independence.[3]
Other historians, according to Edward Ashbee, consider that it was not the tradition of "Freeborn Englishmen", as espoused by Lilburne, Overton,John Milton andJohn Locke, that was the major influence on the concept of unalienable rights in the United States Declaration of Independence, but rather "an attempt to recreate 'civic republicanism' established in classical Greece and Rome".[4]
 | Thishuman rights-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |