From proclamation to practice: the principle of equality in three historic documents

This study examines the principle of equality as it is articulated in three foundational documents: the U.S. Declaration of Independence, the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and the Spanish Constitution of 1812. This research aims to explore how the idea of equality was conceptualised and implemented in these texts and to analyse the historical and socio-political contexts that shaped their development. Using a combination of historical, comparative, and interpretative methods, this study investigates the evolution of equality as a legal and philosophical concept, focussing on its application to different social groups, including women, enslaved individuals, and colonial subjects. The research reveals that while these documents proclaimed universal ideals of equality, their implementation often fell short, reflecting the biases of their time. Key findings include the role of these texts as both catalysts for change and tools for exclusion, as well as their enduring influence on modern human rights discourse. This study concludes that the struggle for equality is an ongoing process, shaped by the tension between ideals and reality, and highlights the importance of historical context in understanding the development of equality as a fundamental principle of justice.