Final answer:
The principles of natural rights resulting from the American Revolution were primarily extended to white, male property owners, while women, Native Americans, and slaves were excluded. The inclusion of these omitted groups in the fulfillment of natural rights was a gradual process that took years to achieve.
Step-by-step explanation:
Extension of Natural Rights After the American Revolution
The principles of natural rights espoused during the American Revolution were indeed revolutionary, promising life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as unalienable rights. However, in practice, these rights were primarily extended to white, male property owners. This group benefitted from the ideals of freedom of expression, property rights, and government participation. In contrast, several groups were notably excluded from the full extension of these rights. Women, Native Americans, and slaves were among those denied these liberties. The rights of these omitted groups were not addressed immediately but saw gradual reforms over many years to achieve full citizenship rights.
It is clear that the American Revolution led to a paradox where the rhetoric of natural rights was not uniformly applied. Many Enlightenment thinkers, including John Locke and Thomas Paine, inspired these ideals, but discrepancies between their philosophical intentions and real-world applications were evident. Despite principled opposition to slavery by some Founding Fathers and gradual emancipation in northern states, the institution of slavery remained intact for some time after the Revolution, and the newly-formed government even protected it in certain contexts.
In summary, the question asks to whom the principles of natural rights were extended and who was omitted. The answer is (d) All of the above: rights were primarily extended to white, male property owners; women, Native Americans, and slaves were largely excluded; and the extension of these rights and obtaining full citizenship was a gradual process that took many years.