U.S. Citizenship Civics TestPrinciples of American DemocracyHard
The concept of 'unalienable rights' is central to the Declaration of Independence. What does the term 'unalienable' mean in this context?
- ARights that can be easily changed or revoked by the government.
- BRights that are granted by the government and can be taken away.
- CRights that cannot be taken away or denied by any government.
- DRights that apply only to citizens, not to all people.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Rights that cannot be taken away or denied by any government.
In the Declaration of Independence, 'unalienable rights' refers to fundamental rights inherent to all human beings that cannot be surrendered, transferred, or taken away by any government or authority. These include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This describes alienable rights, the opposite of unalienable.
- B. This describes privileges or conditional rights, not unalienable rights.
- D. The Declaration implies these rights are universal, not just for citizens.
Meaning of Unalienable Rights
In the context of the Declaration of Independence, 'unalienable rights' are fundamental rights inherent to all human beings that cannot be surrendered, transferred, or taken away by any government.
- Cannot be taken away or denied.
- Inherent to all people by virtue of being human.
- Examples: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Memory trick: Unalienable means 'un'-removable, like a natural label.