07/01/2025
Declaration of Independance in modern terms:
---My favorite parts---:
We believe these truths are obvious: that all people are created equal, and that they have certain rights given to them by their Creator that cannot be taken away. These rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Governments are formed to protect these rights, and their authority comes from the people they govern. If a government starts to violate these rights instead of protecting them, the people have the right to change or get rid of that government and create a new one that will better ensure their safety and happiness...
Because of all this, we have no choice but to declare our independence.
So, weâ...âappeal to God for the justice of our cause and, in the name and with the authority of the people, declare that these colonies are now free and independent states. We no longer owe any loyalty to the British Crown. From now on, we have full power to wage war, make peace, build alliances, trade, and do everything else that independent countries have the right to do.
And to support this declaration, we commit to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
===The whole declaration===:
When people find it necessary to break away from the government that has connected them to another nation, and to take their place as an independent and equal member among the other nations of the worldâas the laws of nature and of God give them the right to doâthey should explain the reasons why they are making this separation.
We believe these truths are obvious: that all people are created equal, and that they have certain rights given to them by their Creator that cannot be taken away. These rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Governments are formed to protect these rights, and their authority comes from the people they govern. If a government starts to violate these rights instead of protecting them, the people have the right to change or get rid of that government and create a new one that will better ensure their safety and happiness.
Of course, we understand that governments shouldnât be changed for small or temporary problems, and history shows that people often put up with a lot of suffering rather than make big changes. But when a government causes a long series of abuses and injustices with the goal of taking total control, the people not only have the rightâthey have a dutyâto throw off that government and create a new one to protect their future.
Thatâs exactly what has happened here. These colonies have suffered patiently, but we can no longer accept the British governmentâs treatment of us. The current king of Britain has repeatedly violated our rights and tried to establish complete control over us. To prove this, we present the facts to the world:
He has refused to approve laws that are essential for the public good.
He has blocked local governments from passing urgent laws unless he agreesâand then ignores them when they wait for his approval.
He has refused to allow new laws for large populations unless those people gave up their right to be represented.
He has forced legislatures to meet in strange, faraway places just to wear them down into accepting his demands.
He has repeatedly dissolved our representative bodies for standing up for our rights.
He has refused to let us elect new representatives after dissolving our governments, leaving us vulnerable to internal chaos and foreign attacks.
He has tried to stop people from settling in these colonies, blocking laws for immigration and land ownership.
He has interfered with justice by refusing to allow us to set up our own courts.
He has made judges rely solely on his will for their jobs and pay.
He has created many new government positions and sent officials to harass and exploit us.
He has kept standing armies here in times of peace without our consent.
He has made the military above civilian authority.
He has joined with others to impose laws we never approved of, including:
Forcing us to house soldiers,
Protecting those soldiers from punishment for crimes,
Cutting off our trade,
Taxing us without our consent,
Denying jury trials,
Shipping people overseas for unfair trials,
Abolishing our local laws and governments,
Taking away our charters and changing our governments without consent,
Suspending our legislatures and claiming total power over us.
He has declared us outside his protection and started a war against us.
He has attacked our coasts, burned our towns, and killed our people.
He is bringing in foreign mercenaries to continue his brutal campaign.
He has forced our captured citizens to fight against their own country.
He has stirred up violence within our communities and encouraged attacks from Native tribes.
In every stage of these abuses, weâve respectfully asked for change. Each time, our petitions were met with more harm. A ruler who behaves like this is not fit to govern a free people.
Weâve also appealed to our fellow British citizens. We warned them about what their government was doing, reminded them of our shared history, and asked for their help. But they too have ignored us.
Because of all this, we have no choice but to declare our independence.
So, weâthe representatives of the United States of America, in Congressâappeal to God for the justice of our cause and, in the name and with the authority of the people, declare that these colonies are now free and independent states. We no longer owe any loyalty to the British Crown. From now on, we have full power to wage war, make peace, build alliances, trade, and do everything else that independent countries have the right to do.
And to support this declaration, we commit to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
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 natureâs God entitles them, a decent respect...
