The significant 18th-century moment that recognized individual liberties and freedoms was the Enlightenment, particularly embodied in key documents like the American Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789. These documents enshrined principles of equality, liberty, and the inherent rights of individuals, challenging existing monarchies and colonial rule. Enlightenment thinkers promoted the idea that governments should protect these rights and be accountable to the people, leading to revolutionary movements across the globe. This era laid the foundation for modern democratic societies and the promotion of universal human rights.