[ASA_PEWS] the declaration

[christopher.chase-dunn at ucr.edu]

Introduction

*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 Bonds 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 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_law> and of
Nature's God <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature%27s_God> entitle them, a
decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare
the Causes which impel them to the Separation.*
Preamble

*We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_men_are_created_equal>, that they are
endowed, by their Creator <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creator>, with
certain unalienable Rights
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inalienable_rights>, that among these are
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life%2C_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
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consent_of_the_governed>, that whenever any
Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of
the People to alter or abolish it
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_revolution>, 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
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolution#Social_and_political_revolutions>,
and to provide new Guards for their future Security.*


Indictment

*Such has been the patient Sufferance so these Colonies; and such is now
the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of
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. To prove this, let
the Facts be submitted to a candid World.*

   - The signers then list 27 grievances against the British Crown
   <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Crown>. The grievances are
   directed personally at the King (as in "*He** has refused his Assent to
   Laws...*"), although many of them refer to actions taken by the British
   Parliament <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Parliament> or the
   Royal Governors. Many of the grievances are examples of violations
of fundamental
   English law <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_Laws_of_England>,
   such as "*imposing taxes on us without our Consent
   <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_without_representation>*",
and "*depriving
   us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury
   <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_trial>*". Many historians maintain
   that some of the grievances <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grievance> are
   exaggerated propaganda <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda> (such
   as the "*Swarms of Officers*" in truth referring to about fifty men
   ordered to prevent smuggling); obviously, though, this did not prevent the
   Founders from feeling that they were valid claims against the King in favor
   of independence.

*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.*
Denunciation

*Nor have we been wanting in Attentions to our British Brethren. We have
warned them from Time to Time of Attempts by their Legislature to extend an
unwarrantable Jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the
Circumstances of our Emigration and Settlement here. We have appealed to
their native Justice and Magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the Ties
of our common Kindred to disavow these Usurpations, which, would inevitably
interrupt our Connections and Correspondence. They too have been deaf to
the Voice of Justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in
the Necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold
the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.*
Conclusion



*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 the 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
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War>, conclude Peace
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace>, contract Alliances
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance>, establish Commerce
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 the divine
Providence <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Providence>, we mutually
pledge to each other our Lives <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live>, our
Fortunes <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortune>, and our sacred Honor
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor>.*