Declaration of the Rights of Man

The democratic aims of the Declaration of the Rights of Man strikes me as its most "modern" aspect. It focuses on the rights of individuals, as opposing to describing the rules put forth by a sovereign figure, and stresses the importance of the common good, instead of focusing on the interests of the elite. Additionally, the basic liberties we associate with a free society--freedom of religion, freedom of religion and speech, due process, etc.--can be found here. The document also seems to advocate for a somewhat pluralist and historical approach to the establishment of the law, subscribing to the idea that a nation is best served by a government that tries to serve the practical needs of the people, instead of expecting the citizens to live under the more abstract, and generally more oppressive, limits associated with a monarchy and aristocracy.