Question

What did Jefferson mean when he wrote that "people are born equal in God's sight"?

A) All individuals possess inherent worth and dignity, regardless of their social status or circumstances.
B) Every person is entitled to the same fundamental rights and freedoms, regardless of their race, gender, or background.
C) Jefferson believed in the concept of natural rights, where all individuals are born with certain unalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
D) Jefferson emphasized the importance of equality before the law, ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and justly in society.

Answer 1

Jefferson's statement that 'people are born equal in God's sight' expresses the idea of natural rights, specifically the belief that all people are born with unalienable rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which act as a foundation for the principle of equality before the law.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Thomas Jefferson wrote that "people are born equal in God's sight," he was reflecting the concept of natural rights, which holds that all individuals possess certain inherent rights from birth. This belief is most clearly articulated in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that "all men are created equal," and they are endowed with unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Jefferson's inclusion of this principle, despite being a slaveholder himself, signaled a radical stance in his time, suggesting that these rights applied to all people, even those enslaved.

He wrestled with the contradiction between the ideal of equality and the reality of slavery, attributing its persistence in part to King George III, while recognizing it as a 'hideous blot' on the nation. The foundational value of equality before the law was a significant part of the American independence movement and would later become a cornerstone in the fight for the rights of various marginalized groups.