Introduction

When in the CourseA path; progression. of human events, it becomes necessary for one peopleA body of persons united by a common culture or kinship, such as a nation or tribe. (In this sense the word is singular rather than plural.) to dissolveTo destroy or bring an end to; to disunite or break up; to loosen. the politicalPertaining to government. bandsMeans of binding or holding things together, such as cords or chains. which have connected them with another(That is, another people.), and to assumeTo take to oneself; to accept as an obligation. among the powersNations or governments. of the earth, the separate and equal stationPlace; position; rank. to which the Laws of NatureThe rules of moral conduct implanted by nature in the human mind, forming the proper basis for and being superior to all written laws; the will of God revealed to man through his ability to reason. (Also called natural law or the law of reason.) and of Nature’s God entitleTo give a right or claim to. them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causesReasons; motives; grounds. which impelTo drive or urge forward; to force. them to the separation.The act of separating, disconnecting, or breaking off ties.

 

The Foundations of Free Government

We holdTo consider, regard, or believe. these truths to be self-evidenClearly understood to be true without needing proof or reasoning.t, that all men are created equal, that they are endowedSupplied, furnished, or equipped; gifted or enriched; clothed. by their Creator(That is, God.) with certain unalienableUnable to be alienated, given up, or transferred to someone else. Rights, that among these are Life, LibertyFreedom from unjust restraint or control; freedom to do as one chooses within the bounds of just laws. and the pursuitThe act of seeking or following something in order to obtain or accomplish it. (The of Happiness. ---

That to secureTo safeguard or protect; to make certain. these rights, Governments are institutedTo safeguard or protect; to make certain. among Men, derivingReceiving; obtaining. their justReasonable; proper; lawful. powers from the consentApproval or agreement. of the governedThe people who live under the government being referred to., ---

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive ofCausing destruction to; seeking or tending to destroy. these ends, it is the Right of the People to alterTo change or make different. or to abolishTo destroy or put an end to; to make void (without legal force or effect). it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them(That is, the people.) shall seem most likely to effectTo cause, accomplish, or bring about. their Safety and Happiness.

PrudenceWisdom; good judgment; caution., indeedTruly; in fact; without question., will dictateTo direct or order; to suggest. that Governments long establishedSet up; made firm or permanent. should not be changed for lightSmall; trivial; unimportant. and transientPassing; momentary; not permanent. causes; and accordinglyAs a result; so; therefore. all experience hathHas. shewn, that mankind are more disposedInclined; having a tendency. to sufferTo feel or experience pain (of body or mind), loss, or damage., while evils are sufferable, than to rightTo do justice to; to relieve from wrong. themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomedMade familiar through use or experience..

But when a long trainA series. of abusesUnjust, improper, or corrupt acts; instances of mistreatment. and usurpationsActs of wrongfully taking the property or power of others by force., pursuingSeeking or following something in order to obtain or accomplish it. invariablyConstantly; without change. the same ObjectA goal, purpose, or objective., evincesShows clearly; proves; gives evidence of. a designA plan or scheme; a purpose or intention. to reduceTo conquer or bring into subjection; to force into obedience. them under absoluteComplete; unlimited. Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provideTo make arrangements for; to establish; to furnish or supply. new GuardsProtections; means of defense. for their future securitySafety; freedom from danger.. ---

Such has been the patient sufferanceEndurance; the bearing of pain, offense, or other suffering. of these ColoniesBodies of people living far from the country in which they (or their ancestors) were born, but still subject to that country; the lands or territories inhabited by such people. (; and such is now the necessityAn urgent need; a force that cannot be resisted. which constrainsForces; compels. them to alter their formerPrevious; earlier. Systems of Government.

 

Abuses of King George III

The history of the present king of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuriesWrongs; injustices; violations of the rights of others. and usurpations, all having in(That is, as a.) direct objectA goal, purpose, or objective. the establishmentThe act of introducing, setting up, or bringing about. of an absoluteComplete; unlimited. tyranny over these statesPolitically organized bodies of people occupying certain territories and having their own governments; the major political units in some nations.. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candidFair; honest; free from prejudice. world.

 

1. He has refused his assentAgreement; approval; consent. to laws(That is, laws enacted by the American colonial legislatures. These laws either required the king's approval before taking effect or were subject to his veto after being passed.) the most wholesomePromoting health, happiness, or well-being. and necessary for the publicPertaining to the government or the people at large. good.
2. He has forbiddenOrdered or commanded not to. his governorsThe chief political officers of states, territories, etc. (In this case, the persons appointed by the British king to govern the American colonies.) to passTo allow or enact. (In this case, by signing or approving after the vote of a legislature.) laws of immediate and pressingUrgent; critical. importance, unless suspendedTemporarily stopped or set aside. in their operation till his assent should be obtainedGotten; gained; acquired.; and when soThus; in the way previously described. suspended, he has utterlyCompletely; totally. neglectedDisregarded or left (something) undone; overlooked; failed or refused. to attend toTo give attention or heed to. them.
3. He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodationThe providing or arranging of what is needed or desired. (In this case, the organizing of local governments. This paragraph refers to the king's restrictions involving new towns and counties created in some of the American colonies.) of large districtsAreas, regions, or portions of land. of people, unless those people would relinquishTo give up. the right of representationThe act or condition of being represented. in the legislatureAn organized body of people having authority to make laws. (In this case, any of the legislatures formed in the American colonies.), a right inestimableToo valuable to be measured; above all price. to them and formidableCausing fear or dread. to tyrantsCruel or oppressive rulers; despots. only.
4. He has called together legislative bodiesLegislatures. (In this case, American colonial legislatures.) at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depositoryA place where something is deposited or stored, such as for safekeeping. of their public records, for the soleSingle; only; solitary. purpose of fatiguing(Pronounced fuh-TEEG-ing.) Tiring, wearying, or exhausting; harassing. them into compliance withObedience or conformity to. his measuresSteps or actions; proposed laws..
5. He has dissolvedBroken up; destroyed or brought an end to. representative housesLegislatures. (In this case, American colonial legislatures.) repeatedly for opposingResisting; acting against. with manlyBrave or courageous; strong; dignified or noble. firmness his invasionsAttacks, infringements, or violations. on the rights of the people.
6. He has refused for a long time, after suchOf the kind previously mentioned. (See paragraph 6.) dissolutionsActs of dissolving, breaking up, or destroying., to cause others(That is, other to be elected; wherebyBy which. (That is, by these acts.) the legislative powersAuthority to enact laws., incapable ofNot having the nature or ability to allow. annihilation(Pronounced uh-nie-uh-LAY-shun.) The act or condition of being destroyed or ceasing to exist., have returned to the people at largeAs a whole. for their exerciseUse; the act or process of performing the duties of., the state remaining in the meantime exposed toNot protected from. all the dangers of invasionAn attack by an enemy; an instance of a hostile army entering a country to plunder or conquer it. from withoutOutside one's own country. and convulsionsViolent civil disturbances, such as riots and insurrections. withinInside one own's country..
7. He has endeavoredTried or attempted. to preventTo hinder or stop; to keep from happening. the populationThe process of providing (a place) with inhabitants. of these states; for that purpose obstructingBlocking or stopping; hindering. the laws for naturalizationThe act of giving someone from a foreign country the rights of a native-born citizen. of foreignersPersons born in other countries., refusing to pass others to encourage their migrationsActs of moving from one country or place to another. hitherTo this place. (That is, to America.), and raisingIncreasing; making higher or more difficult. the conditionsTerms, requirements, or qualifications. of new appropriations of landsInstances of the British government granting lands in America to new settlers..
8. He has obstructed the administrationThe process of administering, applying, or giving out. of justiceThe application of the law; punishment for breaking the law. by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powersCourts of justice. (This paragraph refers to the absence of courts in several American colonies at times when the king or a royal governor rejected colonial laws establishing such courts.).
9. He has made judges dependent onRelying on; subject to; controlled by. his will alone for the tenureThe act, right, or term of holding something. of their officesPositions of responsibility or authority in government. and the amount and payment of their salariesMoney paid for services..
10. He has erectedSet up, established, or formed. a multitudeA great number; a crowd. of new offices, and sent hither swarmsLarge numbers; multitudes. of officers to harassTo weary, exhaust, or fatigue; to annoy. our people and eat out their substanceGoods; property; means of living..
11. He has kept among us, in times of peace, standingPermanent; established. armies without the consentApproval or agreement. of our legislatures.
12. He has affectedAttempted; desired. to renderTo make; to cause (something) to become. the militaryThe armed forces (such as the army, navy, etc.). independentSelf-governing; not depending on or subject to the control of another. of and superior toGreater than; of higher rank than. the civilPertaining to the general public or civic affairs; nonmilitary. power.
13. He has combined with others(That is, the British Parliament--the central lawmaking body of Great Britain, consisting of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.) to subjectTo place under the authority or control of. us to a jurisdictionThe power or authority to govern or make laws. foreignFrom another country; not belonging or connected. to our constitutionAn established form of government; the way in which a state or nation is constituted or organized. (This refers to the right of the American people to govern themselves through their colonial legislatures.) and unacknowledgedNot recognized or accepted. by our laws, giving his assentAgreement; approval; consent. to their acts ofLaws. pretendedClaimed but not genuine; declared in words only. legislationLaws.:
    • For quarteringProviding with housing or shelter. large bodiesGroups. of armedHaving weapons. troopsSoldiers. among us;
    • For protecting them(That is, the British soldiers stationed in America.), by a mockFalse; imitation. trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitantsPersons who live permanently in a certain place. of these states;
    • For cutting off our tradeCommerce; the business of exchanging or buying and selling goods. with all parts of the world;
    • For imposingLaying on or charging as a burden or penalty. taxesSums of money charged and collected by a government for public use. on us without our consentApproval or agreement.;
    • For deprivingWithholding or taking away from. us, in many casesLawsuits, accusations, or legal questions brought before a judge or court of law for decision., of the benefitsHelps; advantages. of trial by juryA body of citizens appointed to examine a case brought before a court of law and to give a verdict (decision) according to the evidence presented.;
    • For transportingCarrying or conveying (something) from one place to another. us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offensesCrimes; violations of the law.;
    • For abolishingDestroying or putting an end to; making void (without legal force or effect). the free system of English laws in a neighboring province(That is, Canada.), establishingIntroducing; setting up; bringing about. thereinIn that place. (That is, in Canada.) an arbitraryDepending on someone's judgment and not fixed by law; not limited in the use of power; despotic or tyrannical. government, and enlargingMaking larger; extending or expanding. its boundaries so as to renderTo make; to cause (something) to become. it at onceBoth; at the same time. an example and fitProper or suitable. instrumentA tool; a means used to accomplish a plan or purpose. for introducing the same absoluteComplete; unlimited. rule into these coloniesBodies of people living far from the country in which they (or their ancestors) were born, but still subject to that country; the lands or territories inhabited by such people. (;
    • For taking away our chartersOfficial documents that established colonies in America and gave the inhabitants authority to settle on lands, form governments, etc., abolishing our most valuableHaving value or worth; useful. laws, and alteringChanging or making different. fundamentallyIn a basic, essential, or radical way. the forms of our governments;
    • For suspendingTemporarily stopping or setting aside. our own legislaturesOrganized bodies of people having authority to make laws. (In this case, the American colonial legislatures.), and declaringFormally or publicly stating or announcing. themselves(That is, the British Parliament.) invested withFormally given or granted; clothed with; put in possession of. power to legislateTo enact laws. for us in all casesEvents; situations; circumstances. whatsoeverWhatever; of any kind at all..
14. He has abdicatedGiven up; abandoned; surrendered. governmentThe right or authority to govern. here by declaring us out of his protection and wagingMaking; beginning; engaging in or carrying on. war(That is, the Revolutionary War of 1775-1783.) against us.
15. He has plunderedRobbed; taken goods from by force. our seas, ravagedDestroyed, ruined, or laid waste by violence; plundered. our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
16. He is at this time transporting large armies of foreignFrom another country. mercenariesSoldiers hired into the military service of a country other than their own. (In this case, Germans or to complete the works of death, desolationDestruction; ruin., and tyrannyCruel or oppressive government; despotism., already begun with circumstancesConditions; events. of cruelty and perfidyThe act or condition of being disloyal or violating a trust; treachery. scarcelyHardly; almost never. paralleledEqualled; matched. in the most barbarousUncivilized or primitive; savage or cruel. agesSpecific periods of time in history (usually lasting for many years)., and totally unworthy the head of a civilizedCultured; refined; advanced. nation.
17. He has constrainedForced; compelled. our fellow citizensCitizens of the same state or nation. (A citizen is a person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to its protection.) taken captiveCaptured and made prisoners of war. on the high seas to bearTo carry; to be equipped or furnished with. armsWeapons; firearms. against their country, to become the executionersPersons who put others to death. of their friends and brethrenBrothers; relatives; persons of the same nation, culture, or race. or to fallTo be killed or wounded in battle. themselves by their hands(That is, the hands of.
18. He has excitedProvoked or stirred up; caused, created, or put in motion. domesticPertaining to one's own country and its internal affairs (such as between states or citizens); not foreign. insurrectionsInstances of a group of citizens openly rising up against their government. amongstAmong. us, and has endeavoredTried or attempted. to bring on(That is, to bring upon; to cause to attack.) the inhabitantsPersons who live permanently in a certain place. of our frontiersAreas near the most distant borders of a country, usually having few settlers or inhabitants. the mercilessHaving no mercy; cruel. Indian savagesUncivilized, primitive, or wild persons; fierce or cruel persons; barbarians., whose known rule of warfareWar; military operations. is an undistinguishedNot separated into different groups or categories. destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditionsProvoked or stirred up; caused, created, or put in motion..

 

Efforts to Obtain Justice from Great Britain

In every stageA step; a period of development. of these oppressions, we have petitionedMade a formal request (usually in writing). for redressRelief or compensation for some wrong or injury. in the most humbleModest, meek, or submissive; not proud. termsWords; expressions.; our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injuryWrongdoing; injustice; violation of the rights of others.. A princeA king or ruler of a nation. whose characterThe particular nature, qualities, or reputation of a person. is thus markedDescribed; noted; distinguished. by every act which may defineTo describe; to identify the meaning, nature, or limits of. a tyrantA cruel or oppressive ruler; a despot. is unfitNot proper, appropriate, or suitable. to be the ruler of a free people.

NorNeither. have we been wanting in attentions to our British brethrenBrothers; relatives; persons of the same nation, culture, or race. (The. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature(That is, the British Parliament.) to extendTo stretch out or reach; to apply. an unwarrantableNot defensible; unjust or improper; illegal. jurisdictionThe power or authority to govern or make laws. over us. We have reminded them of the circumstancesConditions; events. (This refers to the Americans' view that they had established the colonies at their own expense and had not lost any of their natural rights by leaving England.) of our emigrationThe act or process of leaving one country to live in another. and settlementThe act or process of settling or taking up residence in a particular country or place. here. We have appealed to their nativeNatural; inborn; inherent. justiceThe virtue or principle of treating everyone fairly. and magnanimityGreatness or generosity of mind; nobility of feeling., and we have conjuredCalled upon; pleaded with. them by the ties of our common kindredShared family relationship; kinship. to disavowTo reject, disown, or disagree with. these usurpationsActs of wrongfully taking the property or power of others by force., which would inevitablyUnavoidably; certainly. interruptTo stop or hinder. our connections and correspondenceCommunication, especially by the exchange of letters.. They too have been deaf toUnwilling to hear; unconvinced by. the voice of justice and of consanguinity(Pronounced kon-san-GWIN-uh-tee.) The condition of being related by blood, or descended from the same ancestors; kinship.. We must, therefore, acquiesce inTo submit or agree to; to accept. the necessity which denouncesDeclares solemnly; announces as a threat. our separation, and holdTo regard, consider, or judge. them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

 

Birth of the American Nation

We, therefore, the representativesPersons who are elected as members of a lawmaking body, where they represent or act on behalf of the citizens who elected them. of the United States of America, in generalCommon to all; pertaining to the whole body of citizens (in this case, the entire nation); not limited in application (such as to a single colony or state). CongressAn assembly of delegates who meet to discuss and act on important matters concerning the people they represent. (In this case, the Continental Congress, representing all American citizens.) assembled, appealing toCalling upon; making an earnest plea to. the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitudeRightness; integrity. of our intentions, do, in the name and by authority of the good people of these coloniesBodies of people living far from the country in which they (or their ancestors) were born, but still subject to that country; the lands or territories inhabited by such people. (, solemnly publishTo announce or make known to the public; to put in print for public distribution. and declare that these united colonies are, and ofFrom; out of; by. right ought toShould; are morally bound to. be, free and independentSelf-governing; not depending on or subject to the control of another. states; that they are absolvedSet free; released. from all allegianceLoyalty; faithfulness; duty or obligation owed to a nation or government. to the British crownA monarchy or kingly government; a king or queen., and that all politicalPertaining to government. connection between them and the state of Great Britain is and ought to be totally dissolvedDestroyed or brought to an end; broken up.; and that, as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, concludeTo come to an agreement or decision on; to bring about or accomplish. peace, contractTo establish or undertake by contracts or formal agreements. alliancesLeagues or associations of nations by treaty to further the interests they have in common., establishTo introduce, set up, or bring about. commerceTrading or buying and selling of goods., and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do.

And for the supportSustaining; upholding; continuance. of this declarationA formal statement; a proclamation or public announcement., with a firm reliance onThe act of relying or depending on; trust or confidence in. the protection of Divine Providence, we mutuallyJointly; acting together. pledgeTo make a binding promise or agreement. to each other our lives, our fortunesPossessions; property; wealth., and our sacredDedicated to God; unable to be violated; very important. honorDignity; integrity; good reputation..

 

Signers of the Declaration of Independence

New Hampshire	New Jersey	Virginia
Josiah Bartlett	Richard Stockton	George Wythe
William Whipple	John Witherspoon	Richard Henry Lee
Matthew Thornton	Francis Hopkinson	Thomas Jefferson
	John Hart	Benjamin Harrison
Massachusetts	Abraham Clark	Thomas Nelson, Jr.
John Hancock		Francis Lightfoot Lee
Samuel Adams		Carter Braxton
John Adams	Pennsylvania
Robert Treat Paine	Robert Morris	North Carolina
Elbridge Gerry	Benjamin Rush	William Hooper
	Benjamin Franklin	Joseph Hewes
Rhode Island	John Morton	John Penn
Stephen Hopkins	George Clymer
William Ellery	James Smith	South Carolina
	George Taylor	Edward Rutledge
Connecticut	James Wilson	Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Roger Sherman	George Ross	Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Samuel Huntington		Arthur Middleton
William Williams	Delaware
Oliver Wolcott	Caesar Rodney	Georgia
	George Read	Button Gwinnett
New York	Thomas McKean	Lyman Hall
William Floyd		George Walton
Philip Livingston	Maryland
Francis Lewis	Samuel Chase
Lewis Morris	William Paca
	Thomas Stone
	Charles Carroll
	of Carrollton