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TheDeclarationofIndependence:ATranscription

INCONGRESS,July4,1776.
TheunanimousDeclarationofthethirteenunitedStatesofAmerica,

WhenintheCourseofhumanevents,itbecomesnecessaryforonepeopletodissolvethepoliticalbands
whichhaveconnectedthemwithanother,andtoassumeamongthepowersoftheearth,theseparateand
equalstationtowhichtheLawsofNatureandofNature'sGodentitlethem,adecentrespecttotheopinionsof
mankindrequiresthattheyshoulddeclarethecauseswhichimpelthemtotheseparation.

Weholdthesetruthstobeselfevident,thatallmenarecreatedequal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreator
withcertainunalienableRights,thatamongtheseareLife,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness.Thatto
securetheserights,GovernmentsareinstitutedamongMen,derivingtheirjustpowersfromtheconsentofthe
governed,ThatwheneveranyFormofGovernmentbecomesdestructiveoftheseends,itistheRightofthe
Peopletoalterortoabolishit,andtoinstitutenewGovernment,layingitsfoundationonsuchprinciplesand
organizingitspowersinsuchform,astothemshallseemmostlikelytoeffecttheirSafetyandHappiness.
Prudence,indeed,willdictatethatGovernmentslongestablishedshouldnotbechangedforlightandtransient
causesandaccordinglyallexperiencehathshewn,thatmankindaremoredisposedtosuffer,whileevilsare
sufferable,thantorightthemselvesbyabolishingtheformstowhichtheyareaccustomed.Butwhenalong
trainofabusesandusurpations,pursuinginvariablythesameObjectevincesadesigntoreducethemunder
absoluteDespotism,itistheirright,itistheirduty,tothrowoffsuchGovernment,andtoprovidenewGuardsfor
theirfuturesecurity.SuchhasbeenthepatientsufferanceoftheseColoniesandsuchisnowthenecessity
whichconstrainsthemtoaltertheirformerSystemsofGovernment.ThehistoryofthepresentKingofGreat
Britainisahistoryofrepeatedinjuriesandusurpations,allhavingindirectobjecttheestablishmentofan
absoluteTyrannyovertheseStates.Toprovethis,letFactsbesubmittedtoacandidworld.

HehasrefusedhisAssenttoLaws,themostwholesomeandnecessaryforthepublicgood.
HehasforbiddenhisGovernorstopassLawsofimmediateandpressingimportance,unless
suspendedintheiroperationtillhisAssentshouldbeobtainedandwhensosuspended,he
hasutterlyneglectedtoattendtothem.
HehasrefusedtopassotherLawsfortheaccommodationoflargedistrictsofpeople,unless
thosepeoplewouldrelinquishtherightofRepresentationintheLegislature,arightinestimable
tothemandformidabletotyrantsonly.
Hehascalledtogetherlegislativebodiesatplacesunusual,uncomfortable,anddistantfromthe
depositoryoftheirpublicRecords,forthesolepurposeoffatiguingthemintocompliancewith
hismeasures.
HehasdissolvedRepresentativeHousesrepeatedly,foropposingwithmanlyfirmnesshis
invasionsontherightsofthepeople.
Hehasrefusedforalongtime,aftersuchdissolutions,tocauseotherstobeelectedwhereby
theLegislativepowers,incapableofAnnihilation,havereturnedtothePeopleatlargefortheir
exercisetheStateremaininginthemeantimeexposedtoallthedangersofinvasionfrom
without,andconvulsionswithin.
HehasendeavouredtopreventthepopulationoftheseStatesforthatpurposeobstructingthe
LawsforNaturalizationofForeignersrefusingtopassotherstoencouragetheirmigrations
hither,andraisingtheconditionsofnewAppropriationsofLands.
HehasobstructedtheAdministrationofJustice,byrefusinghisAssenttoLawsforestablishing
Judiciarypowers.
HehasmadeJudgesdependentonhisWillalone,forthetenureoftheiroffices,andtheamount
andpaymentoftheirsalaries.
HehaserectedamultitudeofNewOffices,andsenthitherswarmsofOfficerstoharrassour
people,andeatouttheirsubstance.
Hehaskeptamongus,intimesofpeace,StandingArmieswithouttheConsentofour
legislatures.
HehasaffectedtorendertheMilitaryindependentofandsuperiortotheCivilpower.
Hehascombinedwithotherstosubjectustoajurisdictionforeigntoourconstitution,and
unacknowledgedbyourlawsgivinghisAssenttotheirActsofpretendedLegislation:
ForQuarteringlargebodiesofarmedtroopsamongus:
Forprotectingthem,byamockTrial,frompunishmentforanyMurderswhichtheyshould
commitontheInhabitantsoftheseStates:
 ForcuttingoffourTradewithallpartsoftheworld:
ForimposingTaxesonuswithoutourConsent:
Fordeprivingusinmanycases,ofthebenefitsofTrialbyJury:
FortransportingusbeyondSeastobetriedforpretendedoffences
ForabolishingthefreeSystemofEnglishLawsinaneighbouringProvince,establishingtherein
anArbitrarygovernment,andenlargingitsBoundariessoastorenderitatonceanexample
andfitinstrumentforintroducingthesameabsoluteruleintotheseColonies:
FortakingawayourCharters,abolishingourmostvaluableLaws,andalteringfundamentally
theFormsofourGovernments:
ForsuspendingourownLegislatures,anddeclaringthemselvesinvestedwithpowerto
legislateforusinallcaseswhatsoever.
HehasabdicatedGovernmenthere,bydeclaringusoutofhisProtectionandwagingWar
againstus.
Hehasplunderedourseas,ravagedourCoasts,burntourtowns,anddestroyedthelivesofour
people.
HeisatthistimetransportinglargeArmiesofforeignMercenariestocompleattheworksof
death,desolationandtyranny,alreadybegunwithcircumstancesofCruelty&perfidyscarcely
paralleledinthemostbarbarousages,andtotallyunworthytheHeadofacivilizednation.
HehasconstrainedourfellowCitizenstakenCaptiveonthehighSeastobearArmsagainst
theirCountry,tobecometheexecutionersoftheirfriendsandBrethren,ortofallthemselvesby
theirHands.
Hehasexciteddomesticinsurrectionsamongstus,andhasendeavouredtobringonthe
inhabitantsofourfrontiers,themercilessIndianSavages,whoseknownruleofwarfare,isan
undistinguisheddestructionofallages,sexesandconditions.

IneverystageoftheseOppressionsWehavePetitionedforRedressinthemosthumbleterms:Ourrepeated
Petitionshavebeenansweredonlybyrepeatedinjury.APrincewhosecharacteristhusmarkedbyeveryact
whichmaydefineaTyrant,isunfittobetherulerofafreepeople.

NorhaveWebeenwantinginattentionstoourBrittishbrethren.Wehavewarnedthemfromtimetotimeof
attemptsbytheirlegislaturetoextendanunwarrantablejurisdictionoverus.Wehaveremindedthemofthe
circumstancesofouremigrationandsettlementhere.Wehaveappealedtotheirnativejusticeand
magnanimity,andwehaveconjuredthembythetiesofourcommonkindredtodisavowtheseusurpations,
which,wouldinevitablyinterruptourconnectionsandcorrespondence.Theytoohavebeendeaftothevoiceof
justiceandofconsanguinity.Wemust,therefore,acquiesceinthenecessity,whichdenouncesourSeparation,
andholdthem,asweholdtherestofmankind,EnemiesinWar,inPeaceFriends.

We,therefore,theRepresentativesoftheunitedStatesofAmerica,inGeneralCongress,Assembled,
appealingtotheSupremeJudgeoftheworldfortherectitudeofourintentions,do,intheName,andby
AuthorityofthegoodPeopleoftheseColonies,solemnlypublishanddeclare,ThattheseUnitedColoniesare,
andofRightoughttobeFreeandIndependentStatesthattheyareAbsolvedfromallAllegiancetotheBritish
Crown,andthatallpoliticalconnectionbetweenthemandtheStateofGreatBritain,isandoughttobetotally
dissolvedandthatasFreeandIndependentStates,theyhavefullPowertolevyWar,concludePeace,
contractAlliances,establishCommerce,andtodoallotherActsandThingswhichIndependentStatesmayof
rightdo.AndforthesupportofthisDeclaration,withafirmrelianceontheprotectionofdivineProvidence,we
mutuallypledgetoeachotherourLives,ourFortunesandoursacredHonor.

The56signaturesontheDeclarationappearinthepositionsindicated:

Column1
Georgia:
ButtonGwinnett
LymanHall
GeorgeWalton

Column2
NorthCarolina:
WilliamHooper
JosephHewes
JohnPenn
SouthCarolina:
EdwardRutledge
ThomasHeyward,Jr.
ThomasLynch,Jr.
ArthurMiddleton
Column3
Massachusetts:
JohnHancock
Maryland:
SamuelChase
WilliamPaca
ThomasStone
CharlesCarrollofCarrollton
Virginia:
GeorgeWythe
RichardHenryLee
ThomasJefferson
BenjaminHarrison
ThomasNelson,Jr.
FrancisLightfootLee
CarterBraxton

Column4
Pennsylvania:
RobertMorris
BenjaminRush
BenjaminFranklin
JohnMorton
GeorgeClymer
JamesSmith
GeorgeTaylor
JamesWilson
GeorgeRoss
Delaware:
CaesarRodney
GeorgeRead
ThomasMcKean

Column5
NewYork:
WilliamFloyd
PhilipLivingston
FrancisLewis
LewisMorris
NewJersey:
RichardStockton
JohnWitherspoon
FrancisHopkinson
JohnHart
AbrahamClark

Column6
NewHampshire:
JosiahBartlett
WilliamWhipple
Massachusetts:
SamuelAdams
JohnAdams
RobertTreatPaine
ElbridgeGerry
RhodeIsland:
StephenHopkins
WilliamEllery
Connecticut:
RogerSherman
SamuelHuntington
WilliamWilliams
OliverWolcott
NewHampshire:
MatthewThornton
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