Are All Men Created Equal?

The Declaration of Independence boldly proclaims:
“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, — 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 its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

When the American colonists declared independence from the British crown, they staked their lives on the radical belief that government should exist only with the consent of the governed. After winning their freedom from the tyranny of King George, they embedded this principle into the Constitution that established their new republic.

But what does it really mean to say that “all men are created equal”—nearly 250 years after Jefferson first penned those words?

Competing Views of Equality
Today, Democrats and Republicans often interpret the phrase in very different ways.

Conservative Republicans argue that Jefferson’s words were meant to assert equality only between the colonists and the English aristocracy. They often emphasize that wealth, power, and privilege naturally produce different rules and outcomes for different groups in society. To them, inequality is not a flaw to be corrected, but a reflection of the natural order.

Progressive Democrats, on the other hand, take Jefferson’s words more literally: that all people in America—regardless of wealth, race, gender, or background—should be treated equally under the law. They believe every citizen deserves an equal opportunity to pursue success and happiness, as well as equal responsibility to contribute to society. In this view, government plays a crucial role in leveling the playing field and ensuring fairness.

Equality in a Capitalist Society
Modern capitalism, combined with rapid advances in technology, has tilted the playing field toward the wealthy. Opportunities are concentrated at the top, while responsibilities and burdens fall more heavily on the working class. This imbalance has created a caste system in America.

The wealthy have the money, time, and connections to shape laws and policies in their favor. The working class often has little influence in government beyond casting a vote, while being constantly bombarded with political propaganda.

This raises the question: does a society built on vast inequality still honor Jefferson’s promise of equal rights? In truth, the phrase “all men are created equal” has always been open to interpretation. Scholars debate its meaning through historical letters and speeches. Politicians invoke it to justify their agendas. Everyday Americans must decide for themselves what it means in practice.

So ask yourself:
Do you believe inequality is simply a fact of life, beyond the reach of government to change?

Or do you believe government has a responsibility to help every citizen pursue life, liberty, and happiness—the very rights promised in the Declaration?

The Goal of Equality
When Jefferson wrote those words in 1776, they were not only a statement of purpose but also a goal for the new nation. That goal remains unfinished. To surrender it now—whether to complacency, propaganda, or greed—would be to betray the very ideals that sparked America’s independence.

We cannot allow entrenched privilege and oligarchic power to keep us from striving toward true equality. The promise of “all men are created equal” is not just history—it is a challenge to each generation to bring it closer to reality.