The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was influenced by Enlightenment ideas, particularly those promoting individual liberty, equality, and fraternity. Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu emphasized the importance of natural rights and social contracts, which provided a philosophical foundation for the document. The Declaration, adopted during the French Revolution in 1789, articulated the fundamental rights of citizens, asserting principles of universal rights, freedom, and the separation of powers. Its drafting also drew on the American Declaration of Independence, reflecting a revolutionary ideal that sought to dismantle the feudalistic and monarchical structures of the time.