We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…. be that apple pie, a small vineyard, or the stock market.

The pursuit of happiness doesn’t get any more American than that.  But way down at the end of this document, those signers staked their personal bets on something called Providence and did a blood-brother we’re-all-in-the-same-boat handshake.  Huh.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.