This bias for independence and self actuation is even more noticeable in the Declaration of Independence. “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.”
There is so much packed into these few lines, I think it is important to go back and look at them phrase at a time. The authors of the Declaration make several very important claims:
all men are created equal
all men have a right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness
these rights can be neither taken away nor given away
these rights have been given them by their Creator
The authors then go on to state that in their minds the above beliefs are SELF-EVIDENT. In other words, they feel no need to PROVE these beliefs, they are obvious.
Finally, the authors contend that the whole purpose of government is to insure these rights exist for their citizens, and if government does not insure these rights, the citizens have the right to abolish the government and replace it.

This is a course about the Constitution. I include the Declaration because I believe it provides a necessary background if you are to adequately understand the Constitution. The men who signed the Declaration, were the same men who guided the colonies through the Revolutionary war, and the same men who were still around to debate the wording of the Constitution. The country went through 8 years of armed conflict to arrive at these words. As a result of those 8 years, our Constitution is not just a document, it is not just a noun. Rather it is a verb. It is the Right of the People to Alter or to Abolish, and to institute Government in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.