Which document is most closely associated with the development of natural rights theory?

The Declaration of Independence is most closely associated with the development of natural rights theory because it explicitly outlines the concepts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as inherent rights that all individuals possess. This document, drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, was heavily influenced by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, who argued that individuals have fundamental rights that cannot be taken away by governments. The Declaration emphasizes the idea that governments are instituted to protect these natural rights and that if they fail to do so, the people have the right to alter or abolish such governments.

In contrast, while the Magna Carta introduced the idea of limiting the power of the monarchy and establishing certain legal rights, it did not fully articulate the concept of natural rights in the way that the Declaration of Independence did. The Bill of Rights, which outlines specific rights of citizens against government infringement, provides important protections but was developed later and as a response to concerns about government authority rather than as a foundational expression of natural rights theory on its own. The Federalist Papers focused more on the structure of government and the balance of power rather than on the philosophical basis of individual rights.