1When
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. [paraphrase:
If it becomes necessary for a people to assert its God-given right to independence,
its only fair and decent that they explain their reasons for dissolving the
relationship.]
2We hold these truths to be self-evident, [it is obvious] that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights,[rights that cannot be
taken away by human governments] that among these are Life, Liberty and
the pursuit of Happiness. - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - 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. [humans have the right to abolish
governments that deny them their God-given rights, and establish a government
that does respect their rights and allow them to pursue their happiness.]
Prudence [cautious common sense], indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient [temporary] causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. [Indeed, experience shows that people will put up with a lot of unfairness, if they can bear it, rather than overthrow the government.]
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 security. [But,
when the unfairness is too much, and it reduces all their freedom, then they
not only have a right, they have a duty to overthrow the government and create
a new one]
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. [
These colonies have been patient under the abuses of the present government,
and the time has come to end it]
The history of
the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations
[wrongful
seizure of authority or property], all having
in direct object [purpose]
the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove
this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world:
[Then there are 29 paragraphs of "proofs" of the tyranny of the King of England over the American colonies. After that, in the final paragraph, the actual "Declaration:"]
32We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world [God] for the rectitude [rightness]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, that they are Absolved [released] 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. - And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence [God], we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
To hear the full Declaration read aloud by 30 NPR broadcast journalists, listen here.