اعلامیه استقلال امریکا

اعلامیۀ نمایندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا، گرد آمده در گنگرۀ عمومی

هنگامیکه، در سیر وقایع تاریخی، انحلال رابطه سیاسی بین دو ملت پیوسته ضروری میگردد، چنانکه یک ملت مجال کسب مقام خود را در میان قدرتهای دنیا پیدا کند، جایگاه برابر و جداگانه که بر مبنای قوانین طبیعی و الهی مستحق دانسته شده است و احترام نجیبانه به عقاید بشریت مستلزم میکند که انگیزه انفصال اعلام گردد.

اعتقاد ما بر این است که این واقعیات بخودی خود بدیهی و مشهود میباشند که انسانها برابر آفریده شده اند؛ که خالق بشر حقوق لایتجزاء به آنان اعطا کرده است، و در میان چنان حقوق اساسی، حق حیات، حق آزادی و حق پیگیری خوشبختی خویش نهفته است؛ که برای دست یابی به حقوق بشریت، دولتها شکل گرفته اند چنانکه سرچشمه اقتدار عادلانۀ آنان رضایت شهروندان میباشد؛ که علیرغم شکل و ترکیب حکومت، هنگامیکه دولت رو از شهروندان برمیگرداند و نابودی آنان را پیشه میکند، حق مسلم شهروندان دگرگونی و برانداختن حکومت میباشد تا بتوانند دولت نوین را بر مبنای اصول حقوق اساسی خود بنیان گذاشته و قدرت آن را به گونه ای سازماندهی کنند که باور دارند چنان ساختاری امکان تاثیر بر امنیت و خوشبختی شهروندان را بیش از تمامی شکل های حکومت فراهم خواهد کرد.

احتیاط در عمل، حقیقتاً، امر بر این دارد که حکومتهای کهن، بدون پروا و به دلایل سطحی نبایستی تغییر داده شوند. بر این اساس، تجربیات تاریخی نشان داده اند که تحولاتی از این قبیل، امکان رنج و عذاب توده های مردم را بیش از دفع ستم از آنان فراهم خواهد کرد و بهره ای از نابودی شکل و ترکیب حکومتی که به آن انس گرفته اند نصیب مردم نخواهد گشت. اما زمانیکه زنجیر طولانی غصب و تجاوز به حقوق شهروندان به قصد برقراری استبداد و حکومت مطلقه بدون شرم و درنگ گسترده گشته است، وظیفه و حق مسلم شهروندان نابودی دولت و پاسداری از امنیت آینده خود میباشد.

چنان بوده است محنت صبورانۀ مستعمره نشینان و چنان است اینک ضرورتی که آنان را وادار به دگرگونی سیستم دولتهای پیشین میسازد. پیشینۀ پادشاه کنونی بریتانیا روایت تاریخچه ای ست سرشار از صدمات و تصرفات مکرر به قصد برقراری استبداد مطلقه در میان مستعمرات. برای اثبات این ادعا، اجازه دهید حقایق زیر به عالم بی تزویر منصفان ارائه گردد:

ایشان از پذیرش قانون مضایقه نموده اند، پذیرشی که مهمترین و ضروری ترین ارزش آن، منفعت عمومی همگان میباشد.

ایشان فرمانداران خود را از تصویب قوانینی که نیاز به آنان فوری و مبرم است منع نموده اند مگر آنکه حاکمان مستعمره نشینان در بلاتکلیفی معوق مانده اند که در آن صورت، بایستی پیشاپیش رضایت ایشان را جهت تصویب قوانین جدید جویا شوند. حتی در چنان موارد وفقه و سرگردانی، ایشان کاملا نیازهای فرمانداران را نادیده گرفته اند. ایشان از تصویب قوانین دیگری که به نفع بسیاری از حوزه های مستعمره نشینان است خودداری نموده مگر آنکه توده های مردم از حق انتخاب نمایندگان خود در مجلس قانونگذاران بگذرند، حق گرانبهای شهروندانی که در دست ظالمان مستبد و نیرومند گذاشته شده است.

ایشان مراجع مقننه را در مکانهای غیر معمول، ناخوشایند و دور از دسترسی مخازن عمومی فراخوانده و برپا نموده اند منحصراً به قصد فرسودگی عامه و تسلیم و تن سپردن آنان به خواسته ها و اقدامات ایشان.

ایشان بارها و بارها مجلس نمایندگان را منحل نموده است به دلیل اینکه اعضای مجلس قانونگذاران علیه تاخت و تاز و تعرضات ایشان بر حقوق توده های مردم، جوانمردانه استقامت و ایستادگی نموده اند.

ایشان، برای مدت طولانی، پس از انحلال مجلس قانونگذاران، از برقراری انتخابات جهت گزینش دگر نمایندگان امتناع ورزیده است. در نتیجه، قدرت و مسئولیتهای قوۀ مقننه از آنجایی که نابود شدنی نیست، به توده های مردم بازگشته و بر دوش آنان سنگینی میکند. در خلال چنین شرایطی، مستعمره نشینان در معرض تهاجم دشمنان خارجی و ناآرامی و تشنج داخلی قرار گرفته اند.

ایشان کوشیده اند با مسدود کردن روند اجرای قوانینی که به بیگانگان تابعیت شهروندی اعطا میکند، با امتناع از تصویب قوانینی که مهاجرت به این مکان را تشویق خواهد کرد و با دشوار نمودن تخصیص جدید اراضی، از افزایش جمعیت ایالات جلوگیری نمایند.

ایشان با امتناع از برقراری قوه قضائیه و قوانین دادرسی، مانع اجرای عدل و عدالت بوده اند.

ایشان قضات را صرفا وابسته به پذیرش اراده و میل خویش نموده چنانکه انتصاب آنان به مقام قضاوت و میزان حقوق آنان موکول به چنان پذیرشی گشته است.

ایشان دفاتر جدید و کثیری را بنا کرده و ماموران بی شمار خود را برای آزار و اذیت شهروندان و چپاول مال آنان بسیج نموده است.

ایشان در زمان صلح و آرامش، بدون موافقت مجلس قانونگذاران، ارتش آمادۀ خود را در میان مستعمره نشینان مستقر نموده است.

ایشان موجب گشته اند که ارتش و نیروهای انتظامی بر قدرت مدنی جامعه ارشدیت پیدا کرده و به قدرت غیر نظامی جوابگو نباشند.

ایشان، از طریق همدستی و همکاری با دیگران و پذیرشِ تظاهر به قانونگذاری آنان، مستعمره نشینان را تحت تسلط قلمرو قانون بیگانه قرار داده اند در حالیکه قوانین مستعمره نشینان، صلاحیت چنان تسلطی را تصدیق نکرده است:

به دلیل استقرار بیشمار نیروهای مسلح در میان مستعمره نشینان:

به دلیل حفاظت از نیروهای مسلح از طریق برپا نمودن دادگاه های نمایشی و جلوگیری از مجازات آنان که مرتکب هر قتل و کشتاری علیه ساکنان ایالات میشوند:

به دلیل قطع بازرگانی و تجارت میان مستعمره نشینان و تمامی نقاط دنیا:

به دلیل تحمیل مالیات بر مستعمره نشینان بدون رضایت آنان:

به دلیل محرومیت مستعمره نشینان به مزایای حضور هیئت منصفه در بسیاری از دعاوی:

به دلیل انتقال مستعمره نشینان به دادگاه های اروپا به قصد محاکمه نمودن آنان به اتهام جرائم وانمودی:

به دلیل نسخ قوانین آزاد و مشترک بریتانیا در کشور همسایه، کانادا، بنا نهادن دولت مستبد و اختیاری، توسعه مرزهای ایالت کوبک و برنامه ریزی جهت استقرار حکومت خودکامه ای همانند آن در میان مستعمرات آمریکا:

به دلیل سلب مناشیر مستعمره نشینان، منسوخ کردنِ با ارزش ترین قوانین آنان و دگرگونی بنیادی ترکیب حکومت آنان:

به دلیل تعلیق قوۀ مقننۀ مستعمره نشینان و اعلام قدرت نمودن به قصد قانونگذاری در تمامی موارد مربوط به آنان.

ایشان با تکذیب حمایت خود از مستعمره نشینان و برپایی جنگ علیه آنان، از حکومت کناره گیری کرده است.

ایشان دریاهای مستعمره نشینان را غارت نموده، سواحل آنان را ویران کرده، شهرهای آنان را به آتش کشیده و مال و جان آنان را تباه کرده است.

ایشان در حال حاضر مشغول حمل و نقل جمع کثیری از ارتش های مزدور و اجیر شدۀ بیگانه میباشند تا به قصد ارتکاب جنایت و قتل، ویرانی و استبداد، اعمال بیرحمانه و خیانتکارانه خود را که پیش از این آغاز گشته به اتمام رسانند؛ اعمالی که ندرتاً همتای آن در متوحش ترین عهد بربریت دیده شده است، اعمالی که شایسته مقام پیشوا و سرپرست ملتی متمدن نمیباشد.

ایشان شهروندان مستعمرات را در دریا اسیر کرده و آنان را به زور وادار به مبارزۀ مسلحانه علیه میهن شان نموده است چنانکه دست آنان به خون برادران و یاران شان آلوده گشته یا بدست هموطنان خویش کشته شده اند.

ایشان به شورش و ناآرامی های داخلی در میان مستعمره نشینان دامن زده و کوشش نموده اند تا سرخ پوستان بیرحم و وحشی را به جان ساکنان مرزهای ما بیاندازند در حالیکه به همگان آشکار است که قوانین مرسوم در میان سرخ پوستان در زمان جنگ، قانونی ست برای نابودی بلااستثناء تمامی مردم اعم از پیر و جوان و زن و مرد علیرغم وضعیت و شرایط آنان.

در تمامی مراحل بیدادگری، مستعمره نشینان با فروتنی و شکسته نفسی، طلب دادخواهی کرده و خواهان جبران خسارات وارده بوده اند اگرچه تقاضاهای مکرر آنان با ظلم متداول پاسخ داده شده است. شاهزاده ای که منش مستبدان در یکایک کردارش نمایان گشته است، شایان فرمانروای بر ملتی آزاده نیست.

هیچگاه مستعمره نشینان قصد رویارویی با برادران بریتانیایی خود را نداشته اند و گاه و بیگاه به آنان هشدار داده اند که قوۀ مقننه بریتانیا تلاش بر گسترش قلمرو قدرت توجیه ناپذیر و بیجای خود را دارد. ما چگونگی شرایط مهاجرت و سکونت خود را در خاک آمریکا به آنان یادآوری نموده ایم. ما استدعای دادخواهی مرسوم در بریتانیا و رادمردی و بزرگواری از آنان کرده ایم. ما با یادآوری به رابطۀ خویشاوندی مابین بریتانیا و مهاجران، از آنان تقاضای تکذیب و تقبیح قاطعانۀ سیاست دست اندازی و تجاوز به مستعمرات را نموده ایم، سیاستی که نهایتاً منجر به قطع ارتباطات و مکاتبات ما خواهد شد. آنان هم چنان به صدای حق طلبانۀ قوم و خویش خود ناشنوا باقی مانده اند. ما بایستی، در نتیجه، تسلیم ضرورتی که جدایی از بریتانیا را تقبیح میکند شویم و آنان را همانند بقیه بشریت، دوست در زمان صلح و دشمن در زمان جنگ تلقی کنیم.

بدین جهت، ما، نمایندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا، گرد آمده در گنگرۀ عمومی، با توسل به خداوند برای صحت نیت خود، به نام و اقتدار مستعمره نشینانِ نیکو و ارجمند، قاطعانه اعلام میکنیم که مستعمرات متحد، آزاد و مستقل بوده و چنان است حق مسلم آنان، که مستعمره نشینان از هرگونه وفاداری به تاج و تخت بریتانیا مبری میباشند، که تمامی ارتباطات سیاسی میان مستعمره نشینان و دولت بریتانیا زایل بوده و بایستی باطل گردند، که به عنوان ایالات آزاد و مستقل، مستعمره نشینان حق وصول مالیات در زمان جنگ، قبول پیمان صلح، اتحاد و پیوستگی با دُول بیگانه، برقراری تجارت و بازرگانی و تمامی حقوق دیگر که متعلق به کشورهای مستقل میباشند را دارا هستند. برای پشتیبانی و حمایت از این بیانیه، با اتکا راسخ به مشیت الهی، ما، نمایندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا، متقابلاً به یکدیگر با زندگی، مال و شرف خود تعهد میبندیم.

جان هنکاک – رئیس کنگره عمومی 
چارلز تامسون – دبیر کنگره عمومی

نمایندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا در کنگرۀ عمومی

ایالت نیوهمپشر:

Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

ایالت ماساچوست:

John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

ایالت رود آیلند:

Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

ایالت کانتیکت:

Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

ایالت نیویورک:

William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

ایالت نیوجرسی:

Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

ایالت پنسیلونیا:

Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

ایالت دلاویر:

Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

ایالت مریلند:

Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

ایالت ویرجینیا:

George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

ایالت کارولینای شمالی:

William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

ایالت کارولینای جنوبی:

Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

ایالت جورجیا:

Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

منبع: The Pennsylvania Packet, July 8, 1776

  از ویکی پدیا

اعلاميه استقلال

اعلامیه استقلال ایالات متحده آمریکا

 (اعلاميه استقلال)

۴ ژوئيه ١۷۷۶، در کنگره

اعلاميه سيزده ايالت متحد امريکا به اتفاق آراء

هنگاميکه در جريان رویدادهای انسانی، برای مردمی این ضرورت پیش می آید که ارتباطات سياسی که آنان را بيکديگر مرتبط می سازد از هم بگسلند، و در ميان قدرتهای روی زمين، جايگاهی جدا و برابر را که "قانون طبيعت" و "خدای طبيعت" آنرا مجاز می دانند بدست آورند، احترام شایسته به عقايد بشری ايجاب می کند تا دلايلی را که آنان را وادار به این جدايی می کند اعلام دارند. 

ما اين حقايق را که همه افراد بشر يکسان آفريده شده اند، که "خالق" آنان "حقوق" لاينفک ویژه ای به آنها بخشيده است، که حق زندگی، آزادی و جستجوی خوشبختی از جمله اين حقوق است.-- که برای حفظ اين حقوق، دولت ها در ميان مردم تشکيل شده اند، و قدرت خود را از رضايت کسانی که تحت حکومتشان هستند کسب می کنند، -- که هر زمان "نوعی از حکومت" که اين اهداف را تخریب کند، اين "حق مردم است" تا آن حکومت را تغيير داهند يا سرنگون کند، و بجای آن دولت جديدی بنشانند، و پايه های آن را بر اصولی بنا نهند و قدرت آن را طوری سازمان دهد، که از نظر آنان بيشترين احتمال برای حفظ امنیت و خوشبختی آنان را از در بر داشته باشد. دور انديشی، در حقيقت، اينگونه حکم می کند که دولتهای با سابقه را نبايد به دلايل کوچک و گذرا تغيير داد؛ و از اينرو همۀ تجربيات نشان داده اند، که بشر، تا حدی که رنج ها  قابل تحمل باشند، بيشتر متمایل به رنج کشيدن است، تا اصلاح خود از طریق  الغای  قالبهای اشکالی که به آنها عادت کرده است. امّا هنگامي که رشته ای طولانی از بی عدالتيها و چپاولها، که بدون استثناء بدنبال "هدف" واحدی هستند طرحی را برای فروافکندن مردم به زیر سلطۀ يک استبداد مطلق آشکار می کنند، اين ديگر حق آنان است، اين دیگر وظيفه آنان است، که يک چنين دولتی را سرنگون سازند، و "پاسداران" جديدی به محافظت از امنيت آينده خود بگمارند . -- تحمل شکیبایانه اين مستعمره نشینان نيز به همين گونه بوده است؛ و اين همان نيازی است که آنها را به تغيير "نظام های دولتی" پیشین بر می انگیزد. سر گذشت پادشاه فعلی بريتانيا تاریخچۀ ای از بی حرمتی ها و چپاول های پی در پی است، که همگی دارای هدف مستقيم استقرار يک "حکومت خودکامه" مطلق بر سر اين ايالات است. برای اثبات اين مدعا، اجازه دهيد "واقعیت ها" به دنيای واقع بين عرضه شوند. 

وی از "توشيح قوانين" که مفيد ترين و لازم ترين نیاز برای صلاح جامعه اند خودداری کرده است،

فرمانداران خود را از تصويب "قوانينی" که اهميت فوری و مبرم  داشته اند منع کرده است، مگر این که تا زمان کسب رضايت وی به حالت تعليق در آمده باشند، و هنگاميکه بدين ترتيب به حالت تعليق در آمده اند، وی یکسره از پرداختن به آنها قصور ورزيده است. 

از تصويب "قوانين" دیگر برای اسکان مردم متعلق در مناطق وسيع اجتناب ورزيده است، مگر آنکه آن مردم از حق "نمايندگی درقوه مقننه"، که از نظر آنان حقی زایل نشدنی است و تنها برای زورگويان رعب انگیز است، دست بردارند.

هیئت های قانونی را با هم به مکانهايی غير معمولی، نا راحت، و دور از محل نگهداری "اسناد" ملّی، احضار کرده است، تنها به این دليل که آنها را برای موافقت با اقدامات خود خسته و فرسوده سازد. 

"خانه نمايندگان مردم" را، به این سبب که با قاطعيت مردانه با تجاوزات وی به حقوق مردم به مخالفت برخاسته، بکرات منحل کرده است. 

برای مدتهای طولانی، بدنبال چنين انحلال هايی، از فراهم آوردن موجبات انتخاب ديگران ممانعت ورزيده است، در حاليکه قدرتهای "قانونی"، "انهدام ناپذیر" برای اجرا  به توۀ  مردم روی آورده اند، و در همين حال کشور در معرض انواع  مخاطرات حمله از بيرون، و نا آرامی از درون قرار گرفته است. 

برای جلوگيری از تجمع جمعيت در اين ايالات تلاش کرده است؛ بدين منظور از اجرای "قوانين اعطای تابعيت به اتباع خارجی" ممانعت کرده؛ از تصویب قوانین دیگری  برای تشویق مهاجرتشان بدينجا امتناع ورزيده؛ و محدویت های"مالکيت زمين" را افزايش داده است.  

با اجتناب از توشيح "قوانين" به منظور ايجاد اختيارات " قضايی از "اجرای عدالت"  ممانعت کرده است. 

"قضات" را، در مدت تصدی و برای دريافت حقوق خود صرفأ به "اراده" خود وابسته ساخته است. 

"ادارات جديد" بيشماری ایجاد کرده است' و انبوه صاحب منصبان خود  را برای به ستوه آوردن مردم، و بلع دارايی های آنان به اينجا فرستاده است. 

در زمان صلح، بدون "رضايت" قانون گزاران ما در ميان ما از "ارتش دائمی " مستقر داشته است. 

چنین وانمود کرده است که به "ارتش"  در برابر قدرت مدنی استقلال و برتری ارائه می کند. 

با دیگران به منظورمطيع ساختن ما در قبال قدرتی قضايی با قانون اساسی ما بيگانه در حالی  قوانين ما آن را به رسمیت نمی شناسند تبانی کرده و موافقت خود را با  قوانین قوۀ مقننۀ  مجعول آنها اعلام داشته است: 

برای "اسکان" تعداد بيشماری از افراد نظامی درميان ما: 

با راه اندازی "محاکمه" های نمايشی، برای جرائمی که آنها ممکن است عليه ساکنان اين ايالات ها مرتکب شوند: 

برای قطع تجارت ما  بخش هایی از جهان: 

برای دريافت ماليات از ما بدون رضايت ما: 

برای محروم ساختن ما از منافع محاکمه بوسيله هيئت منصفه در پرونده های بسيار: 

برای انتقال ما به آنسوی "آبها" برای محاکمه بخاطر جرائم ساختگی   

 برای بر چيدن "نظام آزاد قوانين انگليسی" در يک "استان" همسايه، تشکيل يک دولت "خودکامه" در آنجا، و گسترش "مرزهای" آن بنحوی که آنرا فورأ بعنوان نمونه و وسيله ای مناسب برای معرفی چنين حکومت مطلق در اين مستعمره نشینان: 

برای از میان بردن "منشور های" ما، لغو ارزشمند ترین "قوانين"  ما، و تغيير بنيادين "شکل دولت های ما": 

برای تعليق "مجالس مقننه" ما، و اعلام اينکه خودشان به منظور قانونگزاری برای ما در کليه امور بدون استثنا دارای اختیارند. 

در ، با اعلام اينکه ما خارج از "حمايت" وی هستيم و با اعلام جنگ عليه ما از دولت ما را  معزول کرده است.  

درياهای ما را غارت کرده است، "سواحل" ما را مورد یورش قرار داده، شهر های ما را به آتشو زندگی مردم ما را به نابودی کشيده است. 

در اين زمان به انتقال تعداد زيادی از نيروهای مزدور بيگانه برای کامل کردن اقدامات مرگبار، ويرانی و ظلم، که چندی پیش تحت شرايط "با بی رحمی  و خيانت کاری آغاز شده و که بندرت می توان نظائر آن را در دوران سبعيت هم ، به هیچوجه  شایستگی این را که  رهبر يک ملت متمدن باشد ندارد. 

"همشهريان" ما را که بعنوان "اسير" به "آبهای" بين المللی برده شده اند ، به حمل سلاح عليه "کشور" شان، تبديل شدن به مأموران اعدام دوستان و برادرانشان، يا به خاک افکندن خود به "دست" خودشان مجبور کرده است. 

وی شورش های داخلی را بر عليه ما بر انگيخته  و تلاش کرده است تا ساکنان مرزهای ما ، وحشيان سرخپوست بی رحم را که قانون شناخته شده جنگی برای آنان، نابودی  بدون چون وچرای افراد از هر سن، و از هر جنسیت  است، برما غالب کند. 

  در هر مرحله از اين "ستمگری ها" ما با لحن بسيار خاضعانه درخواست "جبران خسارت کرده ايم: درخواستهای مکرر ما با آسیب های مکرر پاسخ داده شده است. شاهزاده ای را که شخصيت وی در هر عملی بدینگونه نمایان می شده است می توان ستمگر نامید و او را برای  برای حکومت بر ملتی آزاد نمی توان شايسته ندانست. 

"ما" حتی نمی خواستیم به برادران انگليسی مان گوشزدي داشته باشیم . ما به دفعات در مورد تلاش های قانونگزاری آنان برای بسط يک قدرت نا موجه بر ما به آنان هشدار داده ايم. ما شرايط مهاجرت و اسکانمان در اينجا را به آنان خاطر نشان ساخته ايم.  ما به عدالت و بخشندگی طبیعی آنان متوسل شديم، و خويشاوندی مشترک مان را به ياد ايشان آورديم تا  اين چپاول ها را، که، بناچار ارتباطات و مکاتبات ما را دچار وقفه می کرد کنار بگذارند. آنها  نسبت به صدای عدالت و خويشاوندی گوش شنوايی نداشتند. بنابراين، ما باید برحسب ضرورت چیزی را بپذیریم که "جدايی" ما را تقبیح می کند، و آنها را مانند بقیه افراد بشر به هنگام جنگ "دشمنان و در  زمان صلح دوستان خود تلقی کنیم. 

بنابر اين ما، "نمايندگان" ايالات متحده امريکا، در "کنگره ملّی"، "گرد هم آمديم"، و به داوربرتر جهان متوسل شدیم تا نیات ما را درست گرداند، و به نام و برحسب اختیاری که از جانب مردم  خوب اين متعمره نشینان به ما تفویض شده  اعلام داریم، که آنها از هرگونه اتحادی با دربار انگلستان آزادند ، که هرنوع پیوندی میان آنها و دولت پادشاهی بريتانيای کبیر باید ملغی شود، و اينکه آنها از برقراری مناسباتبازرگانی، و ساير فعاليت هایی که حق ايالات مستقل می است برخوردارند. و ما برای حمايت از اين اعلاميه، با اتکاء محکم بر حمايت خداوندی بطور متقابل زندگی ثروت ، و شرف مقدسمان گرو می گذاريم. 

[۵۶ امضاء کنندۀ اين "اعلاميه" که نامشان بر حسب مقاماتی که دارند ذکر شده است بقرار زيرند

]:

[ستون ١] 

جورجيا: باتون گوينت ليمن هال جورج ولتن  

[ستون ٢]

کارولينای شمالی:  

ويليام هوپر ژوزف هيوز جان پن  

کارولينای جنوبی: ادوارد راتلج توماس هيوارد، جونيور توماس لينچ، جونيور آرتور ميدلتون  

[ستون ٣] 

ماساچوست: جان هنکاک 

 مريلند: 

 ساموئل چيس ويليام پاکا توماس استون چارلز کارول از کارولتون 

 ويرجينيا: 

 جورج وايت ريچارد هنری لی توماس جفرسون بنجامين هريسون توماس نلسون، جونيور فرانسيس لايتفوت لی کارتر برکستون  

[ستون ۴] 

پنسيلوانيا: رابرت موريس بنجامين راش بنجامين فرانکلين جان مورتون جورج کلايمر جيمز اسميت جورج تايلور جيمز ويلسون جورج راس دلاویر: سزار رادنی جورج ريد توماس مک کين [ستون 5]نيو يورک: ويليام فلويد فيليپ ليوينگستون فرانسيس لويس لويس موريس  

نيو جرسی: 

 ريچارد ستاکتون جان ويدرسپون فرانسيس هاپکينسون جان هارت آبراهام کلارک  

[ستون ۶] 

نيو همپشاير:  

جوسيا برتلت ويليام ويپل 

 ماساچوست: ساموئل آدامز جان آدامز رابرت تريت پين البريج گری  

رود آيلند: استيفن هاپکينز ويليام الّری کانکتيکات: راجر شرمن ساموئل هانتينگتون ويليام ويليامز اوليور ولکات  

نيو همپشاير: متيو تورنتون  

ترجمه از سفارت مجازی امریکا در تهران و پر غلط است. به حال آن سفارت و چنین کارکنانی تأسف باید خورد، ظاهرا بیماری های جمهوری ها مسری است!

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription 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 the People 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 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, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of 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 Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. 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. Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish 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. 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 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, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish 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 divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated: Column 1 Georgia:    Button Gwinnett    Lyman Hall    George Walton Column 2 North Carolina:    William Hooper    Joseph Hewes    John Penn South Carolina:    Edward Rutledge    Thomas Heyward, Jr.    Thomas Lynch, Jr.    Arthur Middleton Column 3 Massachusetts: John Hancock Maryland: Samuel Chase William Paca Thomas Stone Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia: George Wythe Richard Henry Lee Thomas Jefferson Benjamin Harrison Thomas Nelson, Jr. Francis Lightfoot Lee Carter Braxton Column 4 Pennsylvania:    Robert Morris    Benjamin Rush    Benjamin Franklin    John Morton    George Clymer    James Smith    George Taylor    James Wilson    George Ross Delaware:    Caesar Rodney    George Read    Thomas McKean Column 5 New York:    William Floyd    Philip Livingston    Francis Lewis    Lewis Morris New Jersey:    Richard Stockton    John Witherspoon    Francis Hopkinson    John Hart    Abraham Clark Column 6 New Hampshire:    Josiah Bartlett    William Whipple Massachusetts:    Samuel Adams    John Adams    Robert Treat Paine    Elbridge Gerry Rhode Island:    Stephen Hopkins    William Ellery Connecticut:    Roger Sherman    Samuel Huntington    William Williams    Oliver Wolcott New Hampshire:    Matthew Thornton Learn about Our National Treasure, interesting and informative facts about the Declaration and its history.

The Declaration of Independence:  an analysis of the three persuasive appeals

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 the People 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 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, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of 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 Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, tocause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hitherswarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for anyMurders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the sameabsolute rule into these Colonies: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become theexecutioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, themerciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. 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. Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish 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. 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 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, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish 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 divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Classical rhetoric considers that a speaker or writer has three appeals at his or her disposal:  to ethos (the standing of the writer or speaker), to pathos (emotion), and to logos (reason), divided into deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning.    The writers of the Declaration of Independence establish their ethical standing--that they are men of good sense, good character, and good will--first, by acknowledging that they need to explain to the world the reasons for their actions.     The writers follow with a statement of their fundamental beliefs, which become the major premise in a deductive argument. Major premise:  the role of government is to protect the rights of the people; when government fails to do so, the people have the right to change it.  Minor premise:  the British government has usurped the rights of the colonists. Conclusion:  the colonists have a right to overthrow that government.     The writers note their prudence; they are cautious, reasonable men.    But logic drives them to conclude that they have no choice but to overthrow a tyrannous government.    What follows in the body of the document is an inductive proof of the minor premise above:  a list of ways in which the British government (and especially the King) has stripped the colonists of their rights.      Through most of the document, the writers appeal to pathos through the words they use in their list of the King's wrongs:  check out all the negative words in this section of the document.     The emotional language reaches a crescendo in the final paragraphs citing the King's actions.     He has shown "Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages," and he is "totally unworthy [to be] the Head of a civilized nation."    Again, the writers assure the world of theirhonest efforts to avoid independence.  But the King, whose injustices they have just listed, has given them no choice.    The colonists have made every appeal, not only to the King, but to "our Brittish brethren." Again--to no avail.  They too "have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity."    In the concluding paragraph, the writers (and signers) of the Declaration appeal to God ("the Supreme Judge of the world") and rely "on the protection of divine Providence."  God, they argue, is on their side.  Furthermore, they are men willing to pledge "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor" for the principles enunciated in the declaration.     Thus the writers of the declaration appeal in a most effective way to ethos (they are reasonable and honorable men), pathos (they have proven emphatically the outrages of the King and Parliament), and logos (they state their beliefs and prove that the King has trampled on their rights).

NARA [National Archives and Records Administration.  Exhibit Hall.  The Declaration of Independence:  A Transcription.   21 Oct. 2002.  .

Language analysis

Rhetorical analysis:  appeals and language

VOCABULARY LISTS : HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS

The Top 90 Terms to help you Comprehend the Declaration of Independence

November 9, 2011 By Georgia S. 

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show: definitions & notes only words   in list order  from A to Z  from Z to A  from easy to hard  from hard to easy 

1. unalienable
   incapable of being repudiated or transferred to another
   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, govern
2. constrain
   hold back
   Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government.
3. usurpation
   wrongfully seizing and holding by force
   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, and to provide new guards for their f
4. King of Great Britain
   the sovereign ruler of England
   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.
5. abolish
   do away with
   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 a
6. consanguinity
   relation by blood
   They too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.
7. suspend
   bar temporarily
   He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and, when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
8. impel
   urge or force to an action; constrain or motivate
   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
9. abdicate
   give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors
   He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.
10. naturalization
    the proceeding whereby a foreigner is granted citizenship
    He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of la
11. sufferance
    patient endurance especially of pain or distress
    Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government.
12. dissolve
    pass into a solution
    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
13. ravage
    cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
    He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
14. absolve
    grant remission of a sin to
    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 s
15. inhabitant
    a person who lives in a particular place
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended le
16. assent
    to agree or express agreement
    He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
17. endow
    give qualities or abilities to
    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, govern
18. evince
    give expression to
    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, and to provide new guards for their f
19. harass
    annoy continually or chronically
    He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
20. acquiesce
    to agree or express agreement
    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.
21. perfidy
    an act of deliberate betrayal
    He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy
22. rectitude
    righteousness as a consequence of being honorable and honest
    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 col
23. colony
    a group of organisms of the same type living together
    Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government.
24. altering
    the sterilization of an animal
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended le
25. mercenary
    a person hired to fight for another country than their own
    He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy
26. establish
    set up or found
    Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right them
27. magnanimity
    liberality in bestowing gifts
    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.
28. declare
    state emphatically and authoritatively
    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
29. endeavor
    attempt by employing effort
    He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of la
30. tyrant
    a cruel and oppressive dictator
    He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrantsonly.
31. emigration
    moving from one place in order to settle in another
    We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here.
32. appropriation
    a deliberate act of acquisition, often without permission
    He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of la
33. plundered
    wrongfully emptied or stripped of anything of value
    He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
34. jurisdiction
    the territory within which power can be exercised
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdictionforeign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of prete
35. tyranny
    government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator
    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.
36. tenure
    the term during which some position is held
    He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
37. despotism
    dominance through threat of punishment and violence
    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, and to provide new guards for their f
38. reliance
    the state of depending on something
    And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
39. independent
    free from external control and constraint
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of prete
40. transport
    move something or somebody around
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended le
41. assemble
    create by putting components or members together
    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 col
42. legislative
    relating to a lawmaking assembly
    He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
43. compliance
    the act of submitting, usually surrendering power to another
    He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
44. levy
    impose and collect
    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 s
45. migration
    the movement of persons from one locality to another
    He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of la
46. deprive
    take away
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended le
47. derive
    come from
    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 a
48. absolute
    perfect or complete or pure
    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, and to provide new guards for their f
49. plunder
    steal goods; take as spoils
    He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
50. consent
    give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to
    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 a
51. justice
    the quality of being just or fair
    He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
52. arbitrary
    based on or subject to individual discretion or preference
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended le
53. brethren
    the lay members of a male religious order
    He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
54. impose
    charge and collect payment
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended le
55. barbarous
    able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
    He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the mostbarbarous ages, and totally unworthy
56. allegiance
    the act of binding yourself to a course of action
    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 s
57. law
    the collection of rules imposed by authority
    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
58. representative
    serving to typify
    He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing, with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of the people.
59. kindred
    group of people related by blood or marriage
    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.
60. render
    give or supply
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of prete
61. inevitably
    in such a manner as could not be otherwise
    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.
62. captive
    a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
    He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
63. government
    the system or form by which a community is ruled
    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, government
64. prudence
    discretion in practical affairs
    Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right them
65. fatigue
    temporary loss of strength and energy from hard work
    He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
66. invariably
    without change, in every case
    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, and to provide new guards for their f
67. appeal
    earnest or urgent request
    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.
68. formidable
    extremely impressive in strength or excellence
    He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.
69. frontier
    a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country
    He has excited domestic insurrection among us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions.
70. representation
    standing in for someone and speaking on their behalf
    He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representationin the legislature, a right inestimable to them, and formidable to tyrants only.
71. trial
    the act of testing something
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended le
72. declaration
    a statement that is emphatic and explicit
    And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
73. jury
    a body of citizens sworn to give a verdict in a court of law
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended le
74. multitude
    a large indefinite number
    He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
75. Britain
    a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
    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.
76. legislation
    the act of making or enacting laws
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of pretended
77. citizen
    a native or naturalized member of a state
    He has constrained our fellow- citizens, taken captive on the high seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
78. pursuit
    the act of following in an effort to overtake or capture
    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 pursuitof happiness; that, to secure these rights, govern
79. equal
    having the same quantity, value, or measure as another
    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
80. humble
    marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
    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.
81. foundation
    the basis on which something is grounded
    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 a
82. domestic
    a servant paid to perform menial tasks around the household
    He has excited domestic insurrection among us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions.
83. sacred
    made or declared or believed to be holy
    And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
84. nation
    a politically organized body of people under a government
    He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the he
85. civil
    of or occurring between or among citizens of the state
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, thecivil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of prete
86. administration
    the act of governing; exercising authority
    He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
87. liberty
    freedom of choice
    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, govern
88. bear
    be pregnant with
    He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high seas, tobear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
89. military
    the armed forces of a nation
    He has affected to render the military independent of, and superior to, the civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent to their acts of prete
90. arms
    weapons considered collectively
    He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.