When the declaration of Independence was written in 1776 who was considered to be equal?

Answer: All men were to be considered equal and had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Explanation: Thomas Jefferson stated,

"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. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."

(Fun Fact: This quote was utilized as one of the many motifs in Hamilton: The Musical!)