Manifestos

Manifestos have historically been used as the foundation of major political movements or revolutions. They have defined the basis for governments, political movements, dogma, constitutions, religion and defined the principles for which human-kind strives to achieve (for better or worse). One of the most notable of manifestos is the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" as written through the collaboration of Thomas Jefferson with French General Lafayette. A manifesto is a published verbal declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government. A manifesto usually accepts a previously published opinion or public consensus or promotes a new idea with prescriptive notions for carrying out changes the author believes should be made. It is often political or artistic in nature, but may present an individual's life stance. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds.