All men are created equal.
All men have basic human rights given to them by God.
The only reason to have a government is to protect these basic human rights, which Jefferson lists as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Government must be by the consent of the governed.
Explanation:
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence and why?
Thomas Jefferson
Although we know Thomas Jefferson as the true author, the Second Continental Congress initially appointed five people to draw up a declaration. The committee included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson.
