What were the factors leading up to the us declaration of war?

What is walt whitman's poem "when i heard the learn'd astronomer about?

Read this brief excerpt from the declaration: 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 in a two- to three-paragraph essay, define in your own words the meaning of the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. in your response, make sure to address whether these rights apply to ideals or issues that are important in today’s world.

Why did some states believe they had the power to overturn federal laws?