What is a fundamental belief expressed in the Declaration of Independence regarding individual rights?

The Declaration of Independence articulates a fundamental belief in the inherent rights of individuals, emphasizing that every person is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This phrase encapsulates the Enlightenment philosophy that people possess natural rights simply by being human. The document asserts that the purpose of government is to protect these rights, and when a government fails to do so, the people have the right to alter or abolish it.

This belief laid the groundwork for the American democratic ethos, focusing on the importance of individual freedoms and the right to seek fulfillment in one's own life. The inclusion of this principle in the Declaration highlights the core values upon which the United States was founded, prioritizing personal freedom and the individual’s role in society.

The other options, while significant rights, do not capture the essential philosophical underpinnings expressed in the Declaration as directly as the notion of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Free speech, the right to a fair trial, and the right to bear arms are important rights but were not articulated as foundational principles in the Declaration itself.