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The ideas in the Declaration of Independence, drafted by 33-year-old [[Thomas Jefferson]] with help by other Founders, were powerful.  Invoking the authority of God frequently throughout the document, the Declaration contains the most striking legal statement of all time:  "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."  The phrase "that all men are created equal" was original to the Declaration of Independence and was quoted frequently by [[Abraham Lincoln]] (e.g., in the [[Gettysburg Address]]) and by other future Americans.   

The ideas in the Declaration of Independence, drafted by 33-year-old [[Thomas Jefferson]] with help by other Founders, were powerful.  Invoking the authority of God frequently throughout the document, the Declaration contains the most striking legal statement of all time:  "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."  The phrase "that all men are created equal" was original to the Declaration of Independence and was quoted frequently by [[Abraham Lincoln]] (e.g., in the [[Gettysburg Address]]) and by other future Americans.   

There is an interesting issue as to whether Jefferson simply copied the substance of the Declaration of Independence from the [[Virginia Declaration of Rights]], which was published earlier and would have been in Jefferson's possession when he drafted the Declaration. See [[Did Jefferson Copy the Declaration of Independence?]]

There is an interesting issue as to whether Jefferson simply copied the substance of the Declaration of Independence from the [[Virginia Declaration of Rights]], which was published earlier and would have been in Jefferson's possession when he drafted the Declaration.

Regardless, the Declaration of Independence drew upon [[Christianity]] and the Enlightenment English philosopher [[John Locke]].  In his famous work "Two Treatises on Government" (1690), Locke declared that all men have the natural (inalienable) rights of "life, liberty and estate (property)."  [[Adam Smith]], the great economist, modified this to be "life, liberty and the pursuit of property."  Notably the Declaration of Independence does not emphasize a right to pursue property, however, speaking instead in favor of pursuit of "happiness".

Regardless, the Declaration of Independence drew upon [[Christianity]] and the Enlightenment English philosopher [[John Locke]].  In his famous work "Two Treatises on Government" (1690), Locke declared that all men have the natural (inalienable) rights of "life, liberty and estate (property)."  [[Adam Smith]], the great economist, modified this to be "life, liberty and the pursuit of property."  Notably the Declaration of Independence does not emphasize a right to pursue property, however, speaking instead in favor of pursuit of "happiness".