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

secure these rights governments are instituted among men

deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends,

it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it and to institute new government

laying its foundation on such principles and organizing his powers in such form

as to them shall seem most likely to affect their safety and happiness.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America in General Congress assembled, appealing to the supreme judge of the

world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by authority of the good people of these colonies

solemnly published and declare

that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states.

I'm Akil Amar. You've just heard excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, approved

by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, announcing that the 13 North American British colonies saw independence from Great Britain.

We discussed the declaration and its influence on the Constitution and beyond on this week's We The People, commemorating Independence Day.

Here's my conversation with Professor Steve Kalabrazi and your host, Jeffrey Rosen. this show by reading the most famous passage from the Declaration of Independence,

the one that begins we hold these truths to be self-evident.

Tell us what were the philosophical sources of those words and what was the

expression of the American mind as Thomas Jefferson put it that he was attempting to distill.

So I think there are three levels that we can talk about.

First we can talk about just the deepest background of the broader sources that influence the American revolutionary generation.

Here's one thing that I say, you are sweet, Jeff, and mentioning my new book, and I'm, again,

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