Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Happiness In The Declaration Of Independence

Many would say that America was built on the principle that “all men are created equal” and that U.S. citizens are all given equal treatment, opportunities, and so on. But, is that really the case? Was Thomas Jefferson’s famous words, forever inscribed in the Declaration of Independence, meant for everyone? Taking a look back into America’s short (at least when compared to other countries) history, the phrase “all men are created equal” doesn’t really seem to correlate with the circumstances of that century. Africans were enslaved and forced to do hard, strenuous labor or else be forced to endure a beating by the slave master. But don’t forget, all men are created equal. It says so in the constitution. Fast forward a couple of hundred years where all men still aren’t equal, but are close to it.

The principle of equality in 1776 meant the most to white rich American males. Our government has changed so much since 1776 that equality means both men and women alike. “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal.” Women and men stated at the Declaration of Sentiments

On June of 1776, the Declaration of Independence was born. Drawn up by Thomas Jefferson and based on the works of John Locke, the general purpose of the document was to clarify that governments have conditional, not absolute authority over the people; that human beings possess natural rights that can’t be taken from them and government is created to protect those rights. The phrases “unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and “all men are created equal” were the main theme of the social contract written for the small colonies of what would be the basis of the United States of America to declare independence from Great Britain and its tyrannical king. However, “unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and “all men are created equal” did not apply to African Americans, enslaved or free for the coming years.

One of the things talked about in the Declaration of Independence is that everyone is created equal, meaning that your race, ethnicity, or religion does not matter. Now, we have evolutionized and finally understand that this does not determine our social class and we treat everyone the same. In the Declaration of Independence it is shown as “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal.” The author, Thomas Jefferson, and Continental Congress put this in the document, not just because some people wanted it, but because it was something that they believed in. Sometimes, we see equality happening, but many times, people do not understand that they need to change their attitude because the Continental

The Declaration of Independence was created to make sure everybody was equal. All men are created equal. Government is upholding the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

There has been many important strides in equality in this country all the way back to the founding of this country. There has been many things that have represented our beliefs as a country and two believed to be of the utmost important. The Gettysburg Address is considered one of the greatest speeches ever given and The Declaration of Independence, we as a nation wanting to be free of the tyranny of Britain. The Gettysburg Address because It was such a short speech that it was never believed it would have the impact it has today but as we all know that thought was wrong. In the speech Abraham Lincoln was able to express so much with so little commemorating the soldiers who had fought the battle and used the ideals in which our country was founded. The Declaration of Independence was where these ideals of Freedom and Equality came from at least for our country that is. That the men who died and fought in the civil war were fighting for a country to have freedom, unity, and the ideal that all men are created equal.

     The Declaration of Independence was the cornerstone of American freedom and equality. By writing this document, the American Colonies could now begin the process of starting a new way of life and a new government. Obviously, at the time the Declaration of Independence was written the concept of “equality” was more limited than it is today. Certainly, all members of colonial America did not share equal status. However the concepts of the Declaration of Independence have evolved more fully over the centuries

It was Thomas Jefferson who uttered the words "That all men are created equal...." However, over one hundred years would pass before these words would mean anything. Equality among all Americans would come with the adoption of the fifteenth, nineteenth, and twenty-fourth Amendments. Before these amendments were passed not everyone had equal rights. African-Americans and white women had almost no rights at all. Their road to equality is large due to three very important

Liberty is defined as freedom from arbitrary or oppressive control, that mandates one’s way of living. A document commonly associated with this concept, is the United States Declaration of Independence, due to its assertion that all men are equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Declaration of Independence even goes on to state that men have the right to alter or abolish their government if they feel their government does not grant people the natural rights that they are entitled to. These two points were crucial to the document, as they explained why the United States thought of itself as an independent nation, not a colony, under the domain of Great Britain. When drafting the declaration, Thomas Jefferson borrowed from other documents, like the English Declaration of Rights, and the writings of John Locke, as both explained the limits of absolute authority. Due to the nature of the declaration, the document and the principles discussed in it would not influence the law of the United States. Additionally, when the founding fathers promised equality to all, they mainly meant to people similar to themselves, white men of property. The hypocrisy with the statements made in the declaration were acknowledged by some nineteenth century social reformers and activists. Though these activists agreed with the principles in the Declaration of Independence, they thought that Liberty could only be

Many Americans struggle to gain equality in the United States of America. The Declaration of Independence is the document that holds the ideals of the American people. Equality is the core value in the document. Equality is being treated fairly and with dignity and be able to embrace the opportunities for education, economic success, political involvement, and a fulfilling life. African Americans struggled for Equality when they were being turned into slaves and not having the equal rights as a white man.

Life… Liberty… and the pursuit of happiness. The 3 things that we, as Americans all share, and that itself, cannot be taken away from us, unalienable rights, as you would put it. But, what are these things, and what do they mean. Today, I will go in depth of what they actually are.

The Declaration of Independence affirms that the country is founded upon the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, the Democratic and Republican Parties do not always uphold these ideas in their decisions regarding social issues. The Democratic party believes in Protecting the lives of inmates, allowing women to choose whether or not to have an abortion, and support LGBT rights. While the Republican Party’s ideals consist of allowing the death penalty, being pro-life, and not supporting the rights of the LGBT community. We almost must remember to integrate our faith into the decisions we make by electing people who support those who uphold biblical ideology. The Democratic Party best upholds the natural rights given to us because they support life sentences rather than the death penalty, the right to choose to have an abortion, and the rights of the LGBT community, which comes closest to the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

“All men are created equal,” a true statement or false hope? Liberty, Democracy, Rights, Equality, and Opportunity. are all outlined in the Declaration of Independence as goals set for America. However, it is debated today if America has lived up to the Ideals. It is more evident that America has not lived up to the Ideals expressed, especially those of Rights, Equality, and Opportunity. As the government increases gun control laws, Americans feel as if their 2nd Amendment Right is being compromised. Some American citizens believe they are being denied things because they are considered un-Equal. Lastly, gay couples believe they deserve the same opportunities given to straight couples. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men

One of the preeminent factors provoking the former Colonists to revolt from the British was concerned with liberty for all; this concept was expanded upon in Constitution, and subverted by the white men who wrote the Constitution. When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independance in 1776, one of opening paragraphs decrees the Americans right to liberty: “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, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”(Thomas Jefferson). Jefferson starts the document addressing the repressed liberty of the Americans in order to demonstrate the importance of fundamental rights. However, though Jefferson says “all men are created equal,” he does not specify a distinction of men, implying all Americans are equal. In the Constitution, the Preamble expresses the need for equality by declaring: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which in the second paragraph states “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, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The United States of America soon went on to be founded on the principle of equality, and while it has faltered with women’s equality and race equality, it has always been the idealism that has helped some of the greatest social workers help expand human rights. Today there are several equality movements continuing to progress towards a nation where there is truly equality for all, but one movement in particular stands