Document B: Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence "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. -That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...
Referring to Document B, explain how the Declaration of Independence reflects the Social Contract Theory of government.
The Declaration of Independence reflects the Social Contract Theory of government through its emphasis on the idea that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. This concept is central to the Social Contract Theory, which posits that the legitimacy of a government stems from an implicit contract between the rulers and the people. According to this theory, individuals collectively agree to form a society and establish a government to protect their natural rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as mentioned in the Declaration.
The Declaration asserts that all men are created equal and are endowed with certain unalienable rights by their Creator. This aligns with the Social Contract Theory's view that individuals possess inherent rights that must be protected by the government. The document further states that governments are instituted to secure these rights, highlighting the idea that the primary purpose of government is to serve the people and safeguard their freedoms.
Moreover, the Declaration implies that when a government fails to protect these rights or acts against the common good, the people have the right to alter or abolish it. This reflects the Social Contract Theory's principle that the authority of the government is conditional upon its fulfillment of the social contract, and that the people have the power to withdraw their consent if the government becomes tyrannical or unjust. Thus, the Declaration of Independence embodies the core tenets of the Social Contract Theory by emphasizing the role of government as a protector of natural rights and the importance of the consent of the governed.