The Declaration of Independence is one of the corner-stones of American politics. It effectively meant the birth of an independent United States of America, separate from the interests of Great Britain. It was written primarily by Thomas Jefferson, and signed by delegates from the American states at the time, on July 4th, 1776.
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.
Great Britain and the American colonies were at war. The declaration being written explains that these colonies wish to separate from Great Britain, become independent, and wishes to establish in writing the reasons for doing so.
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.
It starts off by giving its view on the state of mankind: That all men are created by the same creator, and in their very nature possesses the undeniable and irrevocable right to life, to liberty, and to pursue their own happiness, in whichever form it may take.
Since these rights are established by the creator, and not given to men by legislation, by government, whether congress, president or king, any government that seeks to either grant or revoke these fundamental rights is in grave danger of overstepping its just and rightful powers. (Modern democracies of Europe take heed!)
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed;
The reason for which we have government, then, is for the single purpose of protecting these rights; ensuring that all men have access to them according to their own capacity, and that no-one will deny them these rights. From this, we may logically deduce the necessity of legal bodies, of police and military forces, and of other necessary social services which may be needed to ensure that these rights are not tampered with, nor hindered, in any way.
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.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient 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.
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.
In one of the most radical passages of the declaration, the authors give here the just cause for this revolutionary act on their part. That when the government – in this case, the King and representatives of Great Britain – indeed do revoke these rights, they have overstepped their boundaries, and a forceful rejection of this government is imminent.
A long list of transgressions follows, ending with the statement
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
It shows that compromise has been sought, and rejected. Now there remains only path: To cast off the government of Great Britain, to form a government of their own, and to seek out new guards of their freedom and safety.
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; 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. 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.
And the United States of America was born.
