Consent of the Governed in the Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, articulates several key principles concerning government and individual rights. Among its most famous assertions is the idea that all men are created equal and are endowed with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The document also addresses the right of the people to alter or abolish a government that becomes destructive of these rights, reflecting Enlightenment ideals.

How did the Declaration of Independence specifically define the relationship between governance and the consent of the governed?