DeclarationofIndependence

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WhenintheCourseofhumanevents,itbecomesnecessaryforonepeopletodissolvethepoliticalbands
whichhaveconnectedthemwithanother,andtoassumeamongthepowersoftheearth,theseparateand
equalstationtowhichtheLawsofNatureandofNature'sGodentitlethem,adecentrespecttotheopinions
ofmankindrequiresthattheyshoulddeclarethecauseswhichimpelthemtotheseparation.
Weholdthesetruthstobeselfevident,thatallmenarecreatedequal,thattheyareendowedbytheir
CreatorwithcertainunalienableRights,thatamongtheseareLife,Libertyandthepursuitof
Happiness.Thattosecuretheserights,GovernmentsareinstitutedamongMen,derivingtheirjustpowers
fromtheconsentofthegoverned,ThatwheneveranyFormofGovernmentbecomesdestructiveofthese
ends,itistheRightofthePeopletoalterortoabolishit,andtoinstitutenewGovernment,layingits
foundationonsuchprinciplesandorganizingitspowersinsuchform,astothemshallseemmostlikelyto
effecttheirSafetyandHappiness.Prudence,indeed,willdictatethatGovernmentslongestablishedshould
notbechangedforlightandtransientcausesandaccordinglyallexperiencehathshewn,thatmankindare
moredisposedtosuffer,whileevilsaresufferable,thantorightthemselvesbyabolishingtheformstowhich
theyareaccustomed.Butwhenalongtrainofabusesandusurpations,pursuinginvariablythesameObject
evincesadesigntoreducethemunderabsoluteDespotism,itistheirright,itistheirduty,tothrowoffsuch
Government,andtoprovidenewGuardsfortheirfuturesecurity.Suchhasbeenthepatientsufferanceof
theseColoniesandsuchisnowthenecessitywhichconstrainsthemtoaltertheirformerSystemsof
Government.ThehistoryofthepresentKingofGreatBritainisahistoryofrepeatedinjuriesand
usurpations,allhavingindirectobjecttheestablishmentofanabsoluteTyrannyovertheseStates.Toprove
this,letFactsbesubmittedtoacandidworld.

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HehasrefusedhisAssenttoLaws,themostwholesomeandnecessaryforthepublicgood.
HehasforbiddenhisGovernorstopassLawsofimmediateandpressingimportance,unlesssuspendedin
theiroperationtillhisAssentshouldbeobtainedandwhensosuspended,hehasutterlyneglectedtoattend
tothem.
HehasrefusedtopassotherLawsfortheaccommodationoflargedistrictsofpeople,unlessthosepeople
wouldrelinquishtherightofRepresentationintheLegislature,arightinestimabletothemandformidableto
tyrantsonly.
Hehascalledtogetherlegislativebodiesatplacesunusual,uncomfortable,anddistantfromthedepository
oftheirpublicRecords,forthesolepurposeoffatiguingthemintocompliancewithhismeasures.
HehasdissolvedRepresentativeHousesrepeatedly,foropposingwithmanlyfirmnesshisinvasionsonthe
rightsofthepeople.
Hehasrefusedforalongtime,aftersuchdissolutions,tocauseotherstobeelectedwherebythe
Legislativepowers,incapableofAnnihilation,havereturnedtothePeopleatlargefortheirexercisethe
Stateremaininginthemeantimeexposedtoallthedangersofinvasionfromwithout,andconvulsions
within.

HehasendeavouredtopreventthepopulationoftheseStatesforthatpurposeobstructingtheLawsfor
NaturalizationofForeignersrefusingtopassotherstoencouragetheirmigrationshither,andraisingthe
conditionsofnewAppropriationsofLands.

Hehasworkedhardtomakesuretherearelesspeopleinthesestatesinorderedtodothishe
hastomakesureimmigrantscan'tbecomecitizensinsteadoflettingimmigrantsmigratehere,he
madeitsotheycouldn'tgetlandinthestates.
HehasobstructedtheAdministrationofJustice,byrefusinghisAssenttoLawsforestablishingJudiciary
powers.

Hemadesurethattherearenottrials,bynotagreeingwiththeJudiciarypowers.
HehasmadeJudgesdependentonhisWillalone,forthetenureoftheiroffices,andtheamountand
paymentoftheirsalaries.

Hemadethejudgesdependonthekingandqueenwhenitcomestimeforthejudgetomakehis
decision.
HehaserectedamultitudeofNewOffices,andsenthitherswarmsofOfficerstoharrassourpeople,and
eatouttheirsubstance.

HehasmadeNewOffices,andsentgroupsofOfficerstobotherourpeople,andouttheirrights.
Hehaskeptamongus,intimesofpeace,StandingArmieswithouttheConsentofourlegislatures.

Hehasstationedtroopsamongus,intimesofpeace,withoutourconsent.
HehasaffectedtorendertheMilitaryindependentofandsuperiortotheCivilpower.

HehasmadetheMilitarypowerfromBritainsuperiortotheAmericanpower.
Hehascombinedwithotherstosubjectustoajurisdictionforeigntoourconstitution,andunacknowledged
byourlawsgivinghisAssenttotheirActsofpretendedLegislation

Hehasworkedwithotherstotreatuswithdifferentrules,anddidnotconsiderourlawsand
givingpermissiontotheirfakeactsofLegislation
ForQuarteringlargebodiesofarmedtroopsamongus:

Heforcedthepeopletoletthearmiesstaywiththem.
Forprotectingthem,byamockTrial,frompunishmentforanyMurderswhichtheyshouldcommitonthe
InhabitantsoftheseStates:

Forknowinglyallowingcriminalstogetawaywiththeircrimes.
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ForcuttingoffourTradewithaollpartsoftheworld:
ForimposingTaxesonuswithoutourConsent:
Fordeprivingusinmanycases,ofthebenefitsofTrialbyJury:

FortransportingusbeyondSeastobetriedforpretendedoffences
ForabolishingthefreeSystemofEnglishLawsinaneighbouringProvince,establishingthereinanArbitrary
government,andenlargingitsBoundariessoastorenderitatonceanexampleandfitinstrumentfor
introducingthesameabsoluteruleintotheseColonies:
FortakingawayourCharters,abolishingourmostvaluableLaws,andalteringfundamentallytheFormsof
ourGovernments:
ForsuspendingourownLegislatures,anddeclaringthemselvesinvestedwithpowertolegislateforusinall
caseswhatsoever.
HehasabdicatedGovernmenthere,bydeclaringusoutofhisProtectionandwagingWaragainstus.

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Hehasplunderedourseas,ravagedourCoasts,burntourtowns,anddestroyedthelivesofourpeople.
HeisatthistimetransportinglargeArmiesofforeignMercenariestocompleattheworksofdeath,
desolationandtyranny,alreadybegunwithcircumstancesofCruelty&perfidyscarcelyparalleledinthe
mostbarbarousages,andtotallyunworthytheHeadofacivilizednation.
HehasconstrainedourfellowCitizenstakenCaptiveonthehighSeastobearArmsagainsttheirCountry,
tobecometheexecutionersoftheirfriendsandBrethren,ortofallthemselvesbytheirHands.
Hehasexciteddomesticinsurrectionsamongstus,andhasendeavouredtobringontheinhabitantsofour
frontiers,themercilessIndianSavages,whoseknownruleofwarfare,isanundistinguisheddestructionofall
ages,sexesandconditions.
IneverystageoftheseOppressionsWehavePetitionedforRedressinthemosthumbleterms:Our
repeatedPetitionshavebeenansweredonlybyrepeatedinjury.APrincewhosecharacteristhusmarked
byeveryactwhichmaydefineaTyrant,isunfittobetherulerofafreepeople.

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NorhaveWebeenwantinginattentionstoourBrittishbrethren.Wehavewarnedthemfromtimetotimeof
attemptsbytheirlegislaturetoextendanunwarrantablejurisdictionoverus.Wehaveremindedthemofthe
circumstancesofouremigrationandsettlementhere.Wehaveappealedtotheirnativejusticeand
magnanimity,andwehaveconjuredthembythetiesofourcommonkindredtodisavowtheseusurpations,
which,wouldinevitablyinterruptourconnectionsandcorrespondence.Theytoohavebeendeaftothevoice
ofjusticeandofconsanguinity.Wemust,therefore,acquiesceinthenecessity,whichdenouncesour
Separation,andholdthem,asweholdtherestofmankind,EnemiesinWar,inPeaceFriends.
We,therefore,theRepresentativesoftheunitedStatesofAmerica,inGeneralCongress,Assembled,
appealingtotheSupremeJudgeoftheworldfortherectitudeofourintentions,do,intheName,andby
AuthorityofthegoodPeopleoftheseColonies,solemnlypublishanddeclare,ThattheseUnitedColonies
are,andofRightoughttobeFreeandIndependentStatesthattheyareAbsolvedfromallAllegiancetothe
BritishCrown,andthatallpoliticalconnectionbetweenthemandtheStateofGreatBritain,isandoughtto
betotallydissolvedandthatasFreeandIndependentStates,theyhavefullPowertolevyWar,conclude
Peace,contractAlliances,establishCommerce,andtodoallotherActsandThingswhichIndependent

Statesmayofrightdo.AndforthesupportofthisDeclaration,withafirmrelianceontheprotectionofdivine
Providence,wemutuallypledgetoeachotherourLives,ourFortunesandourSacredHonor.

TranslateyoursectionoftheDeclarationofIndependenceintomoderndaylanguagebelow.If
applicable,placeaCommentnexttoastatementthatsayswherethekingviolatedanatural
rightofthecolonists.