The introduction to the Declaration of Independence posses the basic ideals of America. Four of the ideals extolled in the document are; equality, natural rights, consent if the governed, and the right to revolution. These are also known as the "self-evident truths.".
The ideal of equality; is that all men are created equal. No one human or class of humans is superior to another human or class of humans. This is the first self-evident truth of the Declaration of Independence; and the other three all stem from this vision of equality. .
The second ideal is one on natural rights. The Declaration states that they are, "endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life liberty and the pursuit of happiness." This explains the theory of natural rights of a human being and it is expanded from the original principle of equality. Since you were born with these rights, no one may rightfully deny us these rights, and since they are unalienable we may not surrender them ourselves. .
The third; the concept of consent of the governed is belief that the government must in some way have our consent of it's operations with the idea in mind that a government that rules without coming back to the people for their ongoing consent is an unjust government. Later the Declaration shows an example of an unjust government by denouncing the King of Britain with a list of grievances for keeping us among armies, and imposing taxes on us without our consent. .
The fourth and final ideal gives the right to the people to alter or abolish a destructive government. "Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it." This declares the right of a revolution of the people whose government destroys the security of citizens" unalienable rights. If a government exists to protect the people's rights and isn't succeeding the people should abolish it and set up a new one.
