|
Declaration of (Adopted by
Congress on
1.
When, in
the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to
dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another,
and to
assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to
which the laws of nature and of
nature's God entitle
them, a decent respect to the
opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which
impel them to the separation.
2.
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.
3.
That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men,
deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed.
4.
That whenever any form of
government becomes destructive to 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.
5.
Prudence,
indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be
changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience
hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are
sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which
they are accustomed.
6.
But when a long train of
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a
design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is
their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for
their future security.
7.
--Such
has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of
government……
8.
We,
therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in
General Congress, assembled, appealing to
the
Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions,
do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these
colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are,
and of right ought to be free and independent states;
9.
that they
are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all
political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and
ought to be totally dissolved; and that 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.
10.
And for
the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on
the
protection of Divine |