When in the course of human events, itbecomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which haveconnected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, theseparate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's Godentitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that theyshould declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident,that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator withcertain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuitof happiness.
That to secure these rights, governmentsare instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of thegoverned. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of theseends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institutenew government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing itspowers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safetyand happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate thatgovernments long established should not be changed for light and transientcauses; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are moredisposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves byabolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
But when a long train of abuses andusurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reducethem under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throwoff such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance ofthese Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to altertheir former systems of government. The history of the present King of GreatBritain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in directobject the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To provethis, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
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