Which document declared that all men are created equal?

The Declaration of Independence is the document that famously declares that "all men are created equal." This phrase is a cornerstone of American democratic ideals and highlights the belief in equality and inherent rights for all individuals. Authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, the Declaration articulates the philosophical foundation of the United States, emphasizing that government derives its power from the consent of the governed and that individuals possess unalienable rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

This principle has had a profound impact on subsequent civil rights movements and the interpretation of equality in American society. While the Constitution and the Bill of Rights establish the framework for governance and list individual rights, they do not explicitly declare this fundamental principle of equality. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, specifically aimed at abolishing slavery, but it was the Declaration that initially set forth the ideal of equality in the founding of the nation.