Two Key Rights in the Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence highlights life and liberty as two fundamental unalienable rights endowed by the Creator.

Core Text Excerpt

Here's the famous passage from the document, adopted on July 4, 1776:

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.

This trio—life, liberty, pursuit of happiness—forms the backbone, but any two suffice for the query, like life and liberty.

Historical Backstory

Thomas Jefferson drew from philosophers like John Locke, swapping property for "pursuit of Happiness" to emphasize personal fulfillment over mere ownership.

Picture the heated Philadelphia summer of 1776: delegates debating these rights amid revolution, forging a blueprint for government by consent.

Influenced by Virginia's Declaration of Rights by George Mason, it promised protection from tyranny.

Modern Relevance

These rights inspired the Bill of Rights and echo in U.S. citizenship tests—question 9 asks exactly this.

Today, they underpin debates on personal freedoms, from healthcare to free speech, remaining timeless amid 2026's evolving challenges.

Quick Facts List

  • Life : Right to exist without unjust deprivation.
  • Liberty : Freedom from oppressive control.
  • Pursuit of Happiness : Freedom to seek personal goals (third right).
  • Document signed by 56, including Jefferson, Adams, Franklin.
  • Not legally binding then, but philosophically foundational.

TL;DR: Life and liberty—straight from the Declaration's heart.

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