3. Basic
Structure
It has around 1350
words.
About 400 of those
explain the principles
and beliefs upon
which the USA was
founded.
The rest are
complaints about
King George III.
5. 1. reason for declaration
When in the Course of human
events, it becomes necessary for
one people to dissolve the
political bands 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.
6. 1. reason for declaration
When events occur
that require one
group of people to
become independent
from another,
When in the Course of human
events, it becomes necessary for
one people to dissolve the
political bands 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.
and to take their
place as a separate
but equal group, as
is their natural right,
they should respect
mankind enough to
give their reasons for
becoming
independent
7. 2. self-evident truths
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.
8. 2. self-evident truths
We believe it is an
obvious indisputable
truth that
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.
every human being
is equal in that he
has natural rights
that can not be taken
from them
three of these rights
are life, liberty and
the pursuit of
happiness
9. 3. the purpose of government
That to secure these
rights, Governments
are instituted among
Men, deriving their just
powers from the
consent of the
governed.
10. 3. the purpose of government
governments are
created to protect
these rights
That to secure these
rights, Governments
are instituted among
Men, deriving their just
powers from the
consent of the
governed.
governments get
their power from the
people, who allow
themselves to be
governed
11. 4. reasons for getting rid of or
changing governments
That whenever any Form of
Government becomes
destructive of 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.
12. 4. reasons for getting rid of or
changing governments
whenever a
government
begins hindering
the peoples’
natural rights,
That whenever any Form of
Government becomes
destructive of 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.
the people have the
right to change the
government or get
rid of it and replace it
the government’s
rules & organization
should be designed to
maximize the safety
and happiness of the
people
13. 4. changing/getting rid of
governments, continued
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. 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
14. 4. changing/getting rid of
governments, continued
we shouldn’t
carelessly or
frequently change or
destroy governments
that have been
around for a while
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. 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
history has shown
that mankind
endures rather than
gets rid of bad
governments
when a government
abuses the people too
much, for too long,
they have the right
and the duty to get rid
of it and replace it
15. 5. grievances against the king
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. The history of the
present King of Great Britain is a
history of repeated injuries and
usurpations, all having in direct
object the establishment of an
absolute Tyranny over these
States. To prove this, let Facts
be submitted to a candid world.
16. 5. grievances against the king
this is exactly what
happened to the
colonies and why we
have to change our
government
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. The history of the
present King of Great Britain is a
history of repeated injuries and
usurpations, all having in direct
object the establishment of an
absolute Tyranny over these
States. To prove this, let Facts
be submitted to a candid world.
the king repeatedly,
wrongfully and
illegally hurt us and
rules us with tyranny
we will prove this by
telling the facts to the
world, which can
judge them fairly
17. 6. declaration of independence
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
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;
18. 6. declaration of independence
we the gathered
representatives of
the USA appeal to
God to judge our
intentions,
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
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;
in the name of the
people and with their
authority we declare
that the colonies are free
and independent, and
rightfully so
19. 7. rights of the states
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.
20. 7. rights of the states
the States are
rightfully no longer
allied or politically
tied to Great Britain
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.
since the States are
now free and
independent just like
the State of Great
Britain,
they can do all the things
other nations can do,
such as declare war or
peace, make alliances
and build trade
21. 8. the pledges
And for the support of
this Declaration, with a
firm reliance on the
protection of divine
Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our
Lives, our Fortunes and
our sacred Honor.
22. 8. the pledges
We support this
Declaration and
strongly believe it
is God’s will so
Go will protect us
And for the support of
this Declaration, with a
firm reliance on the
protection of divine
Providence, we mutually
pledge to each other our
Lives, our Fortunes and
our sacred Honor.
we entrust each
other with our lives,
wealth, and honor
