Final answer:
The quoted lines are from the preamble of the US Declaration of Independence, a historical document that declared America's independence from Britain and established the country's foundational principles. The correct answer is A, the US Declaration of Independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Origin of the Quoted Lines
The lines you have referred to are a seminal passage from a foundational document in American history. Specifically, these words appear in the US Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. This document is highly significant as it marks the United States' declaration of independence from Great Britain, and it articulates the essential principles upon which the new nation would be governed.
The phrase 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness' is found in the preamble of the Declaration. It outlines the Enlightenment-era ideals of universal human rights and values, which were particularly innovative at the time. It asserts that these rights are natural and inherent, not granted by governments but by the Creator. Moreover, it states that the government's role is to secure these rights, and that it derives its power from the consent of the governed. If a government should fail to protect these rights, the people are entitled to establish a new government that will ensure their safety and happiness. Therefore, in response to the multiple-choice question you've presented, the correct option where the above lines appear is A, the US Declaration of Independence.