The Rights and

Freedoms of Canadians
MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2016

AGENDA

1. Introduction

2. The Development of Human Rights and Freedoms

3. Rights and Revolutions

4. The Abolition of slavery

5. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

6. Human Rights in Canada after WW2

7. Constitutional Protection of Civil Rights

1. Introduction
Civil

rights, freedoms, human rights =

Important in Canada

Limit

the power the government has over

citizens

Protect

people from being discriminated

1. Introduction (Continued)

Everyone is equal under the law

Socio economic status, gender,

race, age, religion, sexuality should
not determine how you are treated

Ex. Babylon: slaves had few rights

Ex. 16th c France if you were born a

peasant you would die a peasant

2. The Development of Human

Rights and Freedoms
1215

King John signed the Magna

Carta (limited the monarchs
power) The Great Charter

1689

Queen Mary II signed the

English Bill of Rights (promised
election and the rule of law)

https://

www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/m
agna-carta-an-introduction

2. The Development of Human

Rights and Freedoms

1700 human beings had natural rights

(rights to life, liberty and security)

3. Rights and Revolutions

1775 American Revolution: 13 colonies fought for their independence

from Great Britain

Americans did not have an elected representative in British Parliament

and were heavily taxed no taxation without representation

3. Rights and Revolutions Continued

1776 Thomas Jefferson wrote Declaration of

Independence
The Treaty of Paris, ended the War

1788 American Constitution became law

1789 French Revolution

1789 The National Assembly passed the

Declaration of the rights of Man and the
Citizen

Excerpt from the American

Declaration of Independence (1776)

Excerpts from the American Declaration of Independence (1776)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the
People to alter or to abolish it.

Questions
1. In your own words, write down the major understanding contained in these excerpts.
2. Why was this document so revolutionary?
3. As Canadians, do we accept these ideas today? If so, in what ways?

4. The Abolition of Slavery

18th c slaves = property

15 million people were traded as slaves in North

America and Europe

1861-1865 American Civil war

1865 Northern forces won

13th amendment abolished slavery

Ex. Olaudah Equino

5. The Universal Declaration of

Human Rights (1945)
German

government targeted groups of

people during WWII (Jews, Roma, gay and
lesbian, people with disabilities, religions,
political parties)

million Jewish people were killed

6. Human Rights in Canada after

WWII
Canadian

law based on
English Common Law

After

WWII Canadians started

to argue that laws should be
written down

1960

John Diefenbaker
passed the Canadian Bill of
Rights

7. Constitutional Protection of Civil

Rights

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Constitution Act, 1982

Charter: lists rights and freedoms guarantees them at

every level of government

Charter rights are not unlimited: S. 1 The Reasonable

Limits Clause

The Charter limits the power of the government

The Supreme court and the 9 judges have to balance

individual rights with the needs of the community