Natural Rights Individuals possess certain rights by the . A natural right is a claim to what one rightfully owns by birth. Government does not grant natural rights, for they exist prior to the establishment of any government. Natural rights are unalienable; having been given by God and nature, they cannot rightfully be surrendered. “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.” — “The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.” —Alexander Hamilton, Where do our natural rights come from? Inalienable—__________________________________________________________________________ Can our natural rights justly be taken away? _________________________________________________ Life Listed first among the three ““ specified in the Declaration of Independence, “life” is followed by ““ and “.” In order to enjoy liberty or pursue happiness, one must have life. The natural right to life implies a corresponding duty to respect the right to life of others. “The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time: the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.” —Thomas Jefferson, “For in the state of nature, to omit the liberty he has of innocent delights, a man has two powers. The first is to do whatsoever he thinks fit for the preservation of himself and others within the permission of the law of nature.” —John Locke, Study Questions: Is it consistent with the laws of nature to harm another in his person or property? Why or why not?
Natural Rights Individuals possess certain rights by the . A natural right is a claim to what one rightfully owns by birth. Government does not grant natural rights, for they exist prior to the establishment of any government. Natural rights are unalienable; having been given by God and nature, they cannot rightfully be surrendered. “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.” — “The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for, among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.” —Alexander Hamilton, Where do our natural rights come from? Inalienable—__________________________________________________________________________ Can our natural rights justly be taken away? _________________________________________________ Life Listed first among the three ““ specified in the Declaration of Independence, “life” is followed by ““ and “.” In order to enjoy liberty or pursue happiness, one must have life. The natural right to life implies a corresponding duty to respect the right to life of others. “The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time: the hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.” —Thomas Jefferson, “For in the state of nature, to omit the liberty he has of innocent delights, a man has two powers. The first is to do whatsoever he thinks fit for the preservation of himself and others within the permission of the law of nature.” —John Locke, Study Questions: Is it consistent with the laws of nature to harm another in his person or property? Why or why not?
8th_grade_constitution_packet.docx