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1500 BCE
Torah/Ten Commandments
The Five Books of Moses emerge, creating the foundation of the Jewish faith, The Torah. The Torah contains themes including common concern for the welfare and rights of others. Furthermore, the Ten Commandments establish a code of conduct toward others. -
600 BCE
Charter of Freedom of Mankind
Cyrus the Great, King of the Medes and the Persians, issues the "Charter of Freedom of Mankind." It is considered the first charter of human rights. -
600
Qur'an
The teachings of Muhammad are outlined in the Qur'an, which emphasizes racial and religous tolerance, charity and equality. -
1215
Magna Carta
After England suffers a defeat at the Battle of Bouvines, English Barons rebel against King John and force him to sign the Magna Carta. The charter established that all free men had certain rights that even the king could not violate. -
Declaration of Independence
The U.S. Declaration of Independence proclaims "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." -
Pennsylvania Assembly
An "Act for the General Abolition of Slavery" passes the Pennsylvania Assembly. It is the first of such legislation passed in America. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna is held by the states that defeated Napoleon (Austria, Great Britain, Russia, France, and Prussia). International concern for human rights is demonstrated for the first time in modern history. Freedom of religion is proclaimed, civil and political rights discussed, and the slave trade is condemned. -
Abolition Act
The British Parliament passes the Abolition Act, which abolishes the slave trade in the British Empire. -
Treaty of London
Russia, France, Prussia, Austria and Great Britain sign the Treaty of London, which abolishes slavery. -
Emancipation Proclamation
On January 1, President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that "all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall be in rebellion against the United States are forever free." -
13th Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishes slavery in the United States. -
15th Amendment
The Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color or previous conditions of servitude." -
Women's Rights
New Zealand becomes the first nation to grant women the right to vote. -
19th Amendment
The Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants women the right to vote. -
Snyder Act
The U.S. Congress passes the Snyder Act, which grants all Native Americans born in the United States full U.S. citizenship. -
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is established. The Charter of the UN states that one of the primary purposes of the UN is the promotion and encouragement of "respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion." Unlike the League of Nations Covenant, the UN Charter underscores the principle of individual human rights. -
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The UN General Assembly adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the primary international articulation of the fundamental and inalienable rights of all human beings and the first comprehensive agreement among nations with regards to the specific rights and freedom of all human beings. -
Brown V. Board of Education
The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional -
First World Human Rights Conference
The First World Conference on Human Rights is held in Tehran. The United Nations convened member states to evaluate the failures and successes of human rights promotion since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and to work toward the elimination of racial discrimination and apartheid. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
The Americans With Disabilities Act is signed into law, establishing "a clear and comprehensive prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability." -
First Free Election for Iraqi people
Two years after the invasion of Iraq by Coalition Forces to remove Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi people hold their first free election.