Which principle regarding human equality is stated in the Declaration?

• A. That all men are created equal
• B. All men are born rulers
• C. All men are equally rich
• D. All men owe allegiance to the crown

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is equality of people as the basis for political legitimacy. The Declaration states that all people are created equal, meaning every person has the same inherent dignity and rights at birth. This isn’t about wealth or rank; it’s about universal rights that deserve protection by government. That principle underpins the claim that governments exist to safeguard life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that their legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed.

The choice that matches this view is the one that declares all people are created equal. Other statements would imply rulers by birth, wealth as a measure of equality, or obedience to a crown—none of which align with the Declaration’s assertion that equality rests in equal moral worth and equal rights, not in social status or allegiance to a monarchy.