Commentary
The Declaration of Independence teaches that America was founded as a meritocratic nation, a nation where people succeed based on merit, individual talent, and hard work.
How does the Declaration do this?
Its assertion that “all men are created equal” means that all Americans are equal in their ability to chart a path for themselves. The Declaration builds upon this argument by adding that all should be guaranteed life, liberty, and the right to pursue happiness—not happiness itself.
The principles of the Declaration laid the groundwork for what James Trudlow Adams called the American dream, which he defined as the “dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”…