Appendix F: Declaration of Independence (1776)

• Author: Arthur Rizer
• Profession: Director of Justice Policy and a senior fellow at the R Street Institute
• Pages: 233-236

233

APPENDIX F

Declaration of Independence

(1776)

Although Jeerson’s notoriety in his own time really began with his publica-

tion of the Summary View of the Rights of British Americans, he is no

doubt remembered best for his primary authorship of America’s Declaration

of Independence. ough a joint eort, his original draft was largely fol-

lowed by the drafting committee and struck the tone of the document that still

evokes strong emotions in readers today.

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.—at to secure

these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just

powers from the consent of the governed,—at whenever any Form of Gov-

ernment 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 eect 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