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 cause which

impel them to the separation.”

• When one group of people is going to break away from a

  country to form its own nation, then they should explain

  why they are doing it.

• Here is proof that England had interfered with colonial rights:

  the King has not allowed laws that help colonists the most.

• We now consider ourselves to be an independent country.

• Every time we colonists felt we were being treated unfairly,

  we wrote the King. He answered by treating us more

  unfairly. A ruler who abuses his power should not be able to rule

“We hold these truths to be self-

evident, that all men are created equal; that they

are endowed with certain unalienable rights, that

among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness"

• England has repeatedly interfered with colonists’ rights. In

  doing so, it has unfairly ruled over the American colonies.

• Governments are formed to make sure people’s rights are

  protected. Government power should come from the people.

• Individuals have some basic rights that are obvious and

  should not be taken away. Freedom, for example, is one of

  those rights.

• When a government is taking away the rights of citizens and

  is not doing what the people want, then the citizens have the

  right to change or replace the government.

“[T]o secure these [basic] rights,

governments are instituted among men, deriving

their just powers from the consent of the governed

• Every time we colonists felt we were being treated unfairly,

  we wrote the King. He answered by treating us more

  unfairly. A ruler who abuses his power should not be able to

  rule us.

• Governments are formed to make sure people’s rights are

  protected. Government power should come from the people.

• When one group of people is going to break away from a

  country to form its own nation, then they should explain

  why they are doing it.

• We now consider ourselves to be an independent country.

“[T]hat whenever any form of

government becomes destructive [in protecting

rights and responding to the people], it is the right

of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute

a new government...”

• Governments are formed to make sure people’s rights are

  protected. Government power should come from the people.

• When one group of people is going to break away from a

  country to form its own nation, then they should explain

  why they are doing it.

• Individuals have some basic rights that are obvious and

  should not be taken away. Freedom, for example, is one of

  those rights.

• When a government is taking

  away the rights of citizens and is not doing what

  the people want, then the citizens have the right to

  change or replace the 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.”

• Governments are formed to make

  sure people’s rights are protected. Government

  power should come from the people.

• Absolute power is the only way govern a colonial empire despite any harm that may come upon people

• England has repeatedly interfered

  with colonists’ rights. In doing so, it has unfairly

  ruled over the American colonies.

• When one group of people is

  going to break away from a country to form its

  own nation, then they should explain why they are

  doing it.

To prove [that England has

interfered with colonial rights], let the facts be

submitted to a candid world: he has refused to

assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary

for the public good.”

• The King has been gracious to the colonists in providing for their needs.

• In a world full of tyrants, the king has graced his people with benevolence: his laws have been imposed on the people for their benefit.

• Here is proof that England had

  interfered with colonial rights: the King has not

  allowed laws that help colonists the most.

• Colonies are created for subjugation: mother country historically has known what is best for its people

“In every state 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.”

• In each incident of lawful agitation we have asked for redress; thus our actions have been met with violence. Such actions require us to revolt.

• The sword is the only action for a ruler who insistently ignores our demands.

• Our demands take us to the highest judges who will determine if the king is fit for his title.

• Every time we colonists felt we

  were being treated unfairly, we wrote the King.

  He answered by treating us more unfairly. A ruler

  who abuses his power should not be able to rule

  us.

“We, therefore...solemnly publish

and declare, that these united colonies are, and of

right ought to be, free and independent states...”

• We now consider ourselves to be

  an independent country.

• With this act we now declare war upon the throne.

• We now declare ourselves free to join other nations as their sovereign colonies

• It is our opinion that after a time of peace we should be free