Question

Which excerpt from the Declaration of Independence describes the Enlightenment idea of natural rights?

A. "All men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
B. "We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred..."
C. "Whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it..."
D. "He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people."

Answer 1

The excerpt from the Declaration of Independence describing the Enlightenment idea of natural rights is "All men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." This passage emphasizes that governments must protect inherent unalienable rights and that the people have the right to alter or abolish a government that fails to do so.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpt from the Declaration of Independence that best describes the Enlightenment idea of natural rights is A. "All men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." This passage reflects the Enlightenment principles articulated by philosophers like John Locke, who argued that individuals inherently possess certain fundamental rights.

According to the Declaration, the role of government is to protect these unalienable rights, which are inherent and cannot be taken away. It is a foundational belief that governments are established by the people to safeguard their rights to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, and that when a government fails to do so, the people have a right to alter or abolish it and establish a new government that will ensure their safety and happiness.