Final answer:
Paragraph 2 of the Declaration of Independence relates to the introduction by stating the foundational ideas for the colonists' break from England, listing specific grievances against the king, and reflecting the document's philosophical underpinnings rooted in Enlightenment thought.
Step-by-step explanation:
The second paragraph of 'The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America', authored by Thomas Jefferson, expresses the philosophical basis for the colonies’ decision to seek independence from British rule. These key points offer justification for the breakup by emphasizing the colonists' rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the establishment of government by consent, and their right to establish a new government should the existing one become destructive to these ends. This paragraph continues the themes introduced in the opening of the document, laying out the Enlightenment principles that underpin the American government and echoing the social contract theory, particularly of John Locke.
In this context, the three key points from paragraph 2 are:
- They state ideas that support the colonists' desire to break away from England.
- They list the specific grievances that the colonists hold against their English ruler.
- They itemize a series of requests that the colonists wish to make of England.
The introduction asserts the necessity of explaining why the colonies are breaking away, thereby setting the stage for the second paragraph's assertions of natural rights, grievances against the king, and the colonies’ philosophical rationale for separation.