Contents
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.
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The Case for Independence
The British Empire is unjust
The British Empire is unjust. It has plundered our resources, enslaved our people, and crushed our spirit. We have had enough. It is time for us to declare our independence and forge our own path.
We are not alone in this belief. There are many others who feel as we do. Together, we can make a difference. We can create a new nation, one that is free from British rule and unfair taxation. We can create a nation where all people are treated equally, regardless of their background or station in life.
It will not be easy. The British will no doubt try to stop us. But we cannot let that deter us from our goal. We must be brave and stand up for what we believe in. We must fight for our independence.
The British Empire is unresponsive to the colonies’ grievances
The British Empire is unresponsive to the colonies’ grievances and is imposing unjust laws and taxes. The colonies have attempted to rectify the situation through negotiation and protest, but the Empire has only responded with more aggression. The colonies are thus left with no choice but to declare their independence and fight for their freedom.
The Declaration of Independence
The Preamble
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.
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.--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 those who suffer from it 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
The Body
In Congress, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
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.
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.--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 those who suffer from it 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 right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations
The Signatories
The Declaration of Independence was a document signed by 56 men from 13 colonies in North America. They represented a cross-section of colonial society, including farmers, clergymen, merchants, and lawyers. The delegates came from all walks of life, but they shared a common belief in liberty and self-government.
The signatories of the Declaration of Independence were:
John Hancock
Mahlon Dickerson
Elbridge Gerry
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Richard Henry Lee Francis Lewis Philip Livingston Robert R. Livingston John Witherspoon
The Aftermath
The Declaration of Independence was more than just a statement of thirteen colonies breaking away from Britain. It was a call to arms for a new nation. It was a declaration of war. It was the first step on a long and bloody path to freedom.
The War for Independence
The War for Independence was fought between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the thirteen colonies in North America that had declared themselves independent states. The war began in 1775 and ended in 1783. The colonies won the war and became the United States of America.
The Founding of the United States
In 1776, thirteen American colonies declared themselves a new nation, the United States of America. They did this because they felt they were not being treated fairly by the British government. The colonists had no say in how they were governed and were taxed heavily to pay for Britain’s wars. The colonists had tried to reason with the British government, but when those efforts failed, they decided to break away and govern themselves.
The colonists did not act alone. Many Native American nations assisted them in their fight against the British. The most famous help came from the Iroquois Confederacy, a group of six Native American nations located in what is now upstate New York. The Iroquois Confederacy provided military and diplomatic support to the colonists throughout the war.
The Revolutionary War was a long and difficult struggle, but in 1783 the British formally recognized the United States as an independent nation. This event marked a turning point in human history. For the first time, a group of people had declared themselves free from an oppressive government and won their independence.
