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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".

'''"The Declaration of Independence"'''

'''"The Declaration of Independence"'''

[[Image:Declaration_of_independence.jpg|thumb|400px|The Declaration of Independence]]

[[Image:Declaration_of_independence.jpg|thumb|400px|The Declaration of Independence]]

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

— [[John Hancock]]

— [[John Hancock]]

[[New Hampshire]]:

[[New Hampshire]]:

Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

[[Josiah Bartlett]], [[William Whipple]], [[Matthew Thornton]]

[[Massachusetts]]:

[[Massachusetts]]:

[[John Hancock]], [[Samuel Adams]], [[John Adams]], Robert Treat Paine, [[Elbridge Gerry]]

[[John Hancock]], [[Samuel Adams]], [[John Adams]], [[Robert Treat Paine]], [[Elbridge Gerry]]

[[Rhode Island]]:

[[Rhode Island]]:

Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

[[Stephen Hopkins]], [[William Ellery]]

[[Connecticut]]:

[[Connecticut]]:

[[Roger Sherman]], Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

[[Roger Sherman]], [[Samuel Huntington]], [[William Williams]], [[Oliver Wolcott]]

[[New York]]:

[[New York]]:

William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

[[William Floyd]], [[Philip Livingston]], [[Francis Lewis]], [[Lewis Morris]]

[[New Jersey]]:

[[New Jersey]]:

Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

[[Richard Stockton]], [[John Witherspoon]], [[Francis Hopkinson]], [[John Hart]], [[Abraham Clark]]

[[Pennsylvania]]:

[[Pennsylvania]]:

Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, [[Benjamin Franklin]], John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

[[Robert Morris]], [[Benjamin Rush]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[John Morton]], [[George Clymer]], [[James Smith]], [[George Taylor]], [[James Wilson]], [[George Ross]]

[[Delaware]]:

[[Delaware]]:

[[Caesar Rodney]], George Read, Thomas McKean

[[Caesar Rodney]], [[George Read]], [[Thomas McKean]]

[[Maryland]]:

[[Maryland]]:

[[Samuel Chase]], William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

[[Samuel Chase]], [[William Paca]], [[Thomas Stone]], [[Charles Carroll of Carrollton]]

[[Virginia]]:

[[Virginia]]:

George Wythe, [[Richard Henry Lee]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[Benjamin Harrison]], Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

[[George Wythe]], [[Richard Henry Lee]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[Benjamin Harrison]], [[Thomas Nelson, Jr.]], [[Francis Lightfoot Lee]], [[Carter Braxton]]

[[North Carolina]]:

[[North Carolina]]:

William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

[[William Hooper]], [[Joseph Hewes]], [[John Penn]]

[[South Carolina]]:

[[South Carolina]]:

Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

[[Edward Rutledge]], [[Thomas Heyward, Jr.]], [[Thomas Lynch, Jr.]], [[Arthur Middleton]]

[[Georgia]]:

[[Georgia]]:

Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

[[Button Gwinnett]], [[Lyman Hall]], [[George Walton]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category:United States History]]