Answer:
The Declaration of Independence states that the primary function of government is to protect the people's inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It embodies the natural rights philosophy, notably influenced by John Locke, allowing for government alteration or abolition if it fails to serve these functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Declaration of Independence clearly articulated the fundamental purpose of government according to the American founders. The primary function of government, as asserted, was to protect the inalienable rights of the people, which include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It indicated that governance should stem from the consent of the governed and that it is within the rights of the people to alter or abolish any form of government that becomes destructive of these ends.
This principle was grounded in the philosophy of natural rights, particularly as explained by the English philosopher John Locke, and meant to ensure that government exists primarily to serve and protect its citizens. The Declaration, influenced by these ideas, argued for self-governance and democracy, where the colonists expressed their right to be independent from British rule due to the latter's failure to safeguard these fundamental rights.