The idea that all people are created equal. Jefferson famously wrote in the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal" and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This idea was revolutionary at the time, as it challenged the traditional belief that only certain people, such as white men of property, were entitled to these rights. Jefferson's belief in equality extended to all people, regardless of their race, gender, or social status.