[Princeliberty]

The Declaration was the founding document
of the nation. July 4, 1776 was not the constituion.
However, Locke's social contract theory
was not founding principle of nation.

The founders believed we have God given (not contract
given) rights that no government may violate
and if they do so they become tyrants who
have lost their right to rule and can
be opposed by legitimate leaders.

[justshutupandtakeit]

The declaration was a statement to the world that the Colonies were independent. They already had formed a Union in the body of the Continental Congress. War was already underway when the Declaration was published. American armies already existed and were in the field. The nation was already born before that nice piece of paper was given the world.

It was a mere explanation as to what had happening and was aborning.

[Ohioan]

The founders believed we have God given (not contract given) rights that no government may violate and if they do so they become tyrants who have lost their right to rule and can be opposed by legitimate leaders.

That is precisely right. The compact concept is the basis of Government, not the basis of the rights that Government is supposed to secure.

The fact that the founding fathers accepted Locke's view that Government is a social compact, does not mean that they endorsed everything he wrote, or even considered much of what he wrote as relevant. The basic concept, not the author or his treatment of related topics, is the point. The concept in our Declaration of Independence has nothing to do with hero worship, or endorsement of any social view not discussed.

For the full text of what the Declaration actually says, see Declaration Of Independence.

William Flax