The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence can be divided in 4 parts: (1) The Preamble; (2) A Declaration of Rights; (3) A Bill of Indictment and (4) A Statement of Independence. The text of the Declaration is shown below. The notes following each paragraph are not part of the Declaration. They explain the meaning of various passages or give examples injustices that a passage mentions. In Congress, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America. The Preamble When in …

…that "all men", the signers meant people of every race and both sexes. The rights to "Life" included the right to defend oneself against physical attack and against unjust government, to worship freely, and to form a government that protects liberty. The "pursuit of Happiness" meant the right to own property and to have it safeguarded. It also meant the right to strive for the good of all people, not only for one's personal happiness.