Examples of Natural Rights in the Declaration of Independence

In the Declaration of Independence, natural rights are referred to as "unalienable Rights," which are said to be given to all people by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect. The document, primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson, outlines several key examples of these rights. Here are three prominent natural rights that are specifically mentioned:

1. Life:- This is the right of individuals to live and to have their physical integrity protected. It implies that every person has the inherent right to be alive and that it should not be unlawfully taken away by others, including the government.

2. Liberty:- This refers to the right of individuals to be free and to choose how to live their lives without oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. It is the concept of having personal freedom.

3. The pursuit of Happiness:- This suggests that every person has the right to seek out that which they consider to be conducive to their wellbeing or happiness, as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others. It's a broad concept that can encompass economic freedom, personal fulfillment, and overall welfare.

These natural rights are foundational to the Declaration of Independence and form the basis for its arguments for breaking away from British rule. The idea is that these rights are inherent to all humans and should not be infringed upon by the government or anyone else. When a government fails to protect these rights, the Declaration argues, the people have a right to overthrow that government and establish a new one that will secure their unalienable rights.