Question

I need help understanding this passage. The Declaration of Independence 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." After American colonists won their independence, however, they set up a government that allowed people to own others as slaves. Then, write a short paragraph that compares the words of the declaration with how natural rights were or were not protected in the early United States. Which do you think comes closer to Enlightenment beliefs about natural rights — the words in the declaration or the actions of the government?

Answer 1

Answer:

The “self-evident truth” of human equality meant that humans had equal natural rights, equally gave their consent to create a republican government, had equal dignity, and were equal under the law.

Explanation:

What does “self-evident” mean? According to Jefferson and other prominent thinkers of his time, such statements as “all Men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights' are obviously true. Such statements do not require proof.