Adam Smith, in 1776 in his book "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations", describes the right of each successive generation, as a group, collectively, to the earth and all the earth possesses. The "Declaration of Independence" states several group, or collective, rights of the people as well as the states, for example the Right of the People: "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it" and the right of the States: "... as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do."