Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence outlines a political philosophy based on Enlightenment principles such as inalienable rights and government by consent. Authored by Thomas Jefferson, it states that people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and to alter or abolish oppressive governments.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Declaration of Independence Outlines a Political Philosophy
The Declaration of Independence, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson, is a seminal document in American history that encapsulates the political philosophy at the time of America's foundation. Ratified on July 4, 1776, the Declaration outlined several key principles that subsequently became cornerstones of the United States.
These principles were heavily influenced by Enlightenment thinkers, particularly John Locke, and they centered on the belief that all people possess certain inalienable rights, including "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
The document emphasized that governments are instituted to secure these rights, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. It boldly declared that it was the right of the people to alter or abolish any government that became destructive of these ends, thereby epitomizing the democratic ideal that power resides ultimately with the people.
Moreover, the Declaration served as a powerful indictment against King George III, listing grievances that justified America's separation from Britain and setting forth a vision for a new nation founded on principles of equality, rights, and self-governance.