Animal rights, by contrast, is a more radical philosophical position. It argues that animals have an inherent right to live free from human exploitation and use. Proponents believe that animals are not "property" or "resources," but "persons" in a legal or moral sense.
| Year | Event | |------|-------| | 1641 | Massachusetts Body of Liberties – first American law protecting animals from "Tyranny or Cruelty." | | 1822 | UK's Martin's Act – first major anti-cruelty law. | | 1866 | ASPCA founded by Henry Bergh. | | 1975 | Peter Singer's Animal Liberation – modern welfare movement. | | 1983 | Tom Regan's The Case for Animal Rights – rights framework. | | 1997 | EU Protocol on Animal Welfare – recognizes animals as sentient beings. | Animal rights, by contrast, is a more radical
