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The Words of the Declaration of Independence

The Words of the Declaration of Independence

The Words of the Declaration of Independence: A Pivotal Moment in History

The Declaration of Independence, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, is not merely a historical document; it’s a profound expression of human rights, freedom, and the principles upon which the United States was founded. In this article, we will delve into the words of the Declaration of Independence, exploring their significance and enduring impact on the course of history.

The Opening Lines

The Declaration begins with a powerful assertion: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another.” With these words, the Declaration announces the American colonies’ intention to break away from British rule. It asserts that when a government becomes oppressive and destructive of its citizens’ rights, it is not only the right but the duty of the people to alter or abolish it.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident”

Perhaps the most famous passage of the Declaration follows immediately: “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.” This statement encapsulates the essence of the American experiment—a belief in the inherent equality and natural rights of all individuals.

These words have resonated across centuries and continents, inspiring movements for civil rights, social justice, and democracy worldwide. The idea that rights are not granted by governments but are intrinsic to human existence has been a guiding principle for freedom-seekers around the globe.

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men”

The Declaration continues with an acknowledgment of government’s purpose: “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Here, the document articulates a revolutionary concept—that governments exist to protect and preserve the rights of the governed, and that their authority derives from the consent of the people they govern.

The Right to Alter or Abolish

The Declaration makes it clear that the people have the right to alter or abolish a government that becomes destructive of these ends. This was a radical notion at the time, as it challenged the divine right of kings and the established order of governance.

The List of Grievances

The Declaration goes on to list a series of grievances against King George III, documenting the specific injustices and abuses that led the colonies to seek independence. These grievances range from taxation without representation to the presence of standing armies in the colonies during peacetime.

The Pledge of Lives, Fortunes, and Sacred Honor

The Declaration concludes with a pledge of commitment from its signers: “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.” This pledge highlights the extraordinary courage and conviction of the signers, many of whom risked everything to support the cause of independence.

The Enduring Legacy

The words of the Declaration of Independence are not merely historical artifacts; they are living ideals that continue to shape the American identity and influence the world. They have inspired generations to strive for justice, equality, and freedom. They have informed the principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, and they have provided a moral compass for leaders and citizens alike.

In conclusion, the words of the Declaration of Independence are a testament to the enduring power of ideas. They remind us that the pursuit of liberty and justice is a universal human aspiration and that, when faced with tyranny and injustice, individuals have the capacity and the right to stand up and declare their independence. The Declaration’s principles of equality and unalienable rights continue to resonate as guiding lights for those who seek a more just and equitable world.


Authored in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson with the help of fellow political leaders such as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, the Declaration of Independence was the inaugural piece of legislative documentation in the history of the United States of America.

Ratified on July 4th, 1776, the document stated that the United States of America was no longer under the control of the British Monarchy of King George III, and as a result, was free to operate as a sovereign nation independent of any ties to England.

However, the Declaration of Independence was a multi-layered document upon whose creation included two separate functions. In addition to the primary one that established the United States of America as an independent nation, an additional function of the Declaration of Independence was a listing of the perceived legislative infractions and humanitarian crimes the authors of the Declaration of Independence had perceived to be committed on the part of King George III in the spectrum of the British Monarchy.

The document set forth a vow to the citizens of the United States of America that the governing body would never exist as a tyranny that acted to serve the needs of the aristocracy in lieu of the general public. This statement in and of itself was extremely incendiary. The authors of the Declaration of Independence were both establishing and maintaining the sovereignty of a newly-sovereign nation in the wake of a bloody revolution in which many men perished in the service of their country. The document ascertained that the citizens of the United States of America had freed themselves from a tyrannical and totalitarian governing body by whom they had felt both betrayed and wronged.

Furthermore, the words of the Declaration of Independence ensure that any subsequent governing bodies will be sworn to act on the behalf of the people that it serves. This was in contrast to their perception of the methodology of a monarchical model of government, which the authors of the Declaration of Independence had noticed in the inverse – citizens living under a monarchical government are servants of the government, while the government serves the aristocratic class.

The Declaration of Independence was the first legislative doctrine of its kind, which reshaped the notion of gubernatorial bodies placing the governing body in a role of servitude to its collective citizens. Subsequent to the passing of the Declaration of Independence, the United States of America was formed. Upon arriving at the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the United States of America further established both its sovereignty and independence from the British Monarchy as American and European delegates alike arranged newly-modified foreign relations that no longer involved England.

The Declaration of Independence served many functions but seldom were more prevalent than the establishment of sovereignty on the part of the United States of America. The hardships endured under the rule of a tyrannical governing body in the form of King George III allowed for the prospect of a refusal to recreate those same circumstances in any subsequent American governing body.