What is the Preamble?
Preamble means introduction, the preamble of the Declaration of Independence is only six sentences long but focuses on two main ideas: Sovereignty (sov-er-eign-ty) and Natural Rights. Sovereignty is the right of a government to have control over an area. Natural rights are rights that all people are born with in the world, regardless to their position in society.
The second sentence of the preamble states: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." This sentence means that "all men are created equal". The word inalienable means that the Natural Rights cannot be taken away. The third sentence is a very long run-on sentence that explains natural sovereignty which means governments get power from their citizens. When the governments do not protect their people, then it is "the right of the people" to change governments. |
After Thomas Jefferson wrote his the draft of the Declaration of Independence there were 86 changes made by the Second Continental Congress.
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