All Men Are Created Equal

The Declaration: 3rd Grade All Men Are Created Equal

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress agreed on a final version of the Declaration of Independence. The Second Continental Congress was a big meeting where representatives from all the colonies came together to talk about and make important decisions. Let’s look at some of the most important passages from the Declaration of Independence to learn what they mean.

“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.”

First, let’s look at “all men are created equal.” In this line, the Founders declared that no one person is better than anyone else, no one is more or less important, and no one is valued more or less.

Unalienable Rights

Now, take a look at the second part, that says our Creator “endows” people with “unalienable” rights. Thomas Jefferson was referring to the rights that all human beings have, which come from God. The government doesn’t give us our rights – God does. This means our rights can never be taken away.

God gives us the right to life, which means we have the ability to live. God also gives us the right to liberty, which means we can think and believe freely. He also gives us the right to pursue, or seek happiness, which means we can choose how to make our lives joyful and enjoyable. As human beings with rights given to us by God, we have a lot of freedom! However, with great freedom comes great responsibility. Responsibility means doing the things you are supposed to do and making good choices. People must follow the law but no law and no person can violate anyone’s freedom.

The Declaration

Did you know that the day the Declaration of Independence was agreed to is often referred to as America’s birthday? To celebrate the significance of this historic day, we now have a holiday known as the Fourth of July. On the Fourth of July, Americans often celebrate our country’s independence with parades and firework shows. People wear red, white, and blue and host barbeques to enjoy hotdogs and hamburgers.

The Fourth of July is a day of celebration because it is the day that our great country was born. The next time you celebrate July 4th, remember the bravery, vision, and determination of our Founders and the American colonists who brought the United States to life.

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