declaration

Declarationof

Independence

[AdoptedinCongress4July1776]

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DeclarationofIndependence1

TheUnanimousDeclarationofthe

ThirteenUnitedStatesofAmerica

hen,inthecourofhumanevents,itbecomes

necessaryforonepeopletodissolvethepolitical

bondswhichhaveconnectedthemwithanother,

andtoassumeamongthepowersoftheearth,theparate

andequalstationtowhichthelawsofnatureandofnature's

Godentitlethem,adecentrespecttotheopinionsofmankind

requiresthattheyshoulddeclarethecauswhichimpelthem

totheparation.

W

Weholdthetruthstobelf-evident,thatallmenare

createdequal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwith

certainunalienablerights,thatamongthearelife,liberty

curetherights,

governmentsareinstitutedamongmen,derivingtheirjust

eneverany

formofgovernmentbecomesdestructivetotheends,itis

therightofthepeopletoalterortoabolishit,andtoinstitute

newgovernment,layingitsfoundationonsuchprinciplesand

organizingitspowersinsuchform,astothemshallem

ce,

indeed,willdictatethatgovernmentslongestablishedshould

notbechangedforlightandtransientcaus;andaccordingly

allexperiencehathshownthatmankindaremoredispodto

suffer,whileevilsaresufferable,thantorightthemlvesby

n

alongtrainofabusandusurpations,pursuinginvariably

thesameobjectevincesadesigntoreducethemunder

absolutedespotism,itistheirright,itistheirduty,tothrow

offsuchgovernment,andtoprovidenewguardsfortheir

futurecurity.—Suchhasbeenthepatientsufferanceof

thecolonies;andsuchisnowthenecessitywhich

constrainsthemtoaltertheirformersystemsofgovernment.

ThehistoryoftheprentKingofGreatBritainisahistory

ofrepeatedinjuriesandusurpations,allhavingindirect

DeclarationofIndependence2

objecttheestablishmentofanabsolutetyrannyoverthe

ethis,letfactsbesubmittedtoacandidworld.

Hehasrefudhisasnttolaws,themostwholesomeand

necessaryforthepublicgood.

Hehasforbiddenhisgovernorstopasslawsofimmediate

andpressingimportance,unlesssuspendedintheiroperation

tillhisasntshouldbeobtained;andwhensosuspended,he

hasutterlyneglectedtoattendtothem.

Hehasrefudtopassotherlawsfortheaccommodation

oflargedistrictsofpeople,unlessthopeoplewould

relinquishtherightofreprentationinthelegislature,aright

inestimabletothemandformidabletotyrantsonly.

Hehascalledtogetherlegislativebodiesatplacesunusual,

uncomfortable,anddistantfromthedepositoryoftheirpublic

records,forthesolepurpooffatiguingtheminto

compliancewithhismeasures.

Hehasdissolvedreprentativehousrepeatedly,for

opposingwithmanlyfirmnesshisinvasionsontherightsof

thepeople.

Hehasrefudforalongtime,aftersuchdissolutions,to

cauotherstobeelected;wherebythelegislativepowers,

incapableofannihilation,havereturnedtothepeopleatlarge

fortheirexerci;thestateremaininginthemeantime

expodtoallthedangersofinvasionfromwithout,and

convulsionswithin.

Hehandeavoredtopreventthepopulationofthe

states;forthatpurpoobstructingthelawsfornaturalization

offoreigners;refusingtopassotherstoencouragetheir

migrationhither,andraisingtheconditionsofnew

appropriationsoflands.

Hehasobstructedtheadministrationofjustice,byrefusing

hisasnttolawsforestablishingjudiciarypowers.

Hehasmadejudgesdependentonhiswillalone,forthe

tenureoftheiroffices,andtheamountandpaymentoftheir

salaries.

Heharectedamultitudeofnewoffices,andnthither

swarmsofofficerstoharassourpeople,andeatouttheir

substance.

DeclarationofIndependence3

Hehaskeptamongus,intimesofpeace,standingarmies

withouttheconntofourlegislature.

Hehasaffectedtorenderthemilitaryindependentofand

superiortocivilpower.

Hehascombinedwithotherstosubjectustoajurisdiction

foreigntoourconstitution,andunacknowledgedbyourlaws;

givinghisasnttotheiractsofpretendedlegislation:

Forquarteringlargebodiesofarmedtroopsamongus:

Forprotectingthem,bymocktrial,frompunishmentfor

anymurderswhichtheyshouldcommitontheinhabitantsof

thestates:

Forcuttingoffourtradewithallpartsoftheworld:

Forimposingtaxesonuswithoutourconnt:

Fordeprivingusinmanycas,ofthebenefitsoftrialby

jury:

Fortransportingusbeyondastobetriedforpretended

offens:

ForabolishingthefreesystemofEnglishlawsina

neighboringprovince,establishingthereinanarbitrary

government,andenlargingitsboundariessoastorenderitat

onceanexampleandfitinstrumentforintroducingthesame

absoluteruleinthecolonies:

Fortakingawayourcharters,abolishingourmostvaluable

laws,andalteringfundamentallytheformsofour

governments:

Forsuspendingourownlegislatures,anddeclaring

themlvesinvestedwithpowertolegislateforusinallcas

whatsoever.

Hehasabdicatedgovernmenthere,bydeclaringusoutof

hisprotectionandwagingwaragainstus.

Hehasplunderedouras,ravagedourcoasts,burnedour

towns,anddestroyedthelivesofourpeople.

Heisatthistimetransportinglargearmiesofforeign

mercenariestocompletetheworksofdeath,desolationand

tyranny,alreadybegunwithcircumstancesofcrueltyand

perfidyscarcelyparalleledinthemostbarbarousages,and

totalyunworththeheadofacivilizednation.

Hehasconstrainedourfellowcitizenstakencaptiveonthe

DeclarationofIndependence4

highastobeararmsagainsttheircountry,tobecomethe

executionersoftheirfriendsandbrethren,ortofall

themlvesbytheirhands.

Hehaxciteddomesticinsurrectionsamongstus,andhas

endeavoredtobringontheinhabitantsofourfrontiers,the

mercilessIndiansavages,whoknownruleofwarfare,is

undistinguisheddestructionofallages,xesandconditions.

Ineverystageoftheoppressionswehavepetitionedfor

redressinthemosthumbleterms:ourrepeatedpetitionshave

e,who

characteristhusmarkedbyeveryactwhichmaydefinea

tyrant,isunfittobetherulerofafreepeople.

NorhavewebeenwantinginattentiontoourBritish

warnedthemfromtimetotimeofattempts

bytheirlegislaturetoextendanunwarrantablejurisdiction

remindedthemofthecircumstancesofour

appealedtotheir

nativejusticeandmagnanimity,andwehaveconjuredthem

bythetiesofourcommonkindredtodisavowthe

usurpations,which,wouldinevitablyinterruptour

,therefore,

acquiesceinthenecessity,whichdenouncesourparation,

andholdthem,asweholdtherestofmankind,enemiesin

war,inpeacefriends.

We,therefore,thereprentativesoftheUnitedStatesof

America,inGeneralCongress,asmbled,appealingtothe

SupremeJudgeoftheworldfortherectitudeofour

intentions,do,inthename,andbytheauthorityofthegood

peopleofthecolonies,solemnlypublishanddeclare,that

theunitedcoloniesare,andofrightoughttobefreeand

independentstates;thattheyareabsolvedfromallallegiance

totheBritishCrown,andthatallpoliticalconnection

betweenthemandthestateofGreatBritain,isandoughtto

betotallydissolved;andthatasfreeandindependentstates,

theyhavefullpowertoleveywar,concludepeace,contract

alliances,establishcommerce,andtodoallotheractsand

the

supportofthisdeclaration,withafirmrelianceonthe

DeclarationofIndependence5

protectionofDivineProvidence,wemutuallypledgetoeach

otherourlives,ourfortunesandoursacredhonor.