Final answer:
Thomas Jefferson's famous phrase "all men are created equal," asserts that all people have equal inherent value and rights such as Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Over time, the phrase has come to be interpreted inclusively, despite originally referring to white males. These rights are understood as natural and unalienable, influenced by Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Jefferson's Phrase
When Thomas Jefferson wrote "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," in the Declaration of Independence, he was asserting a fundamental principle that each person holds the same inherent value and rights by virtue of being human. These rights are described as unalienable, meaning they cannot be taken away or denied. The phrase emphasizes equality before the law and the belief that rights such as Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness are integral to human existence and should be protected by government—whose powers are derived from the consent of the governed.
Jefferson's use of "all men" was indeed rooted in the societal context of his time, where it largely referred to white males within the polity. Despite this historical limitation, the phrase has been interpreted more inclusively over time to mean all human beings, irrespective of gender, race, or other distinctions. Thus, while the original audience may have understood it more narrowly, contemporary readings align with a broad, inclusive understanding of human equality.
These ideals drew from the Enlightenment thinking of philosophers like John Locke, who conceptualized natural rights and the social contract theory, which influenced the American Revolution and the formation of the new nation's principles. Although there were controversies given the widespread practice of slavery, Jefferson and others opted not to explicitly address such contradictions within the founding document.