Sometimes it is necessary for a group of people to separate themselves from
their government and create a new (separate) country. This is a serious decision
so it is important that we, the Thirteen United States of America, spell out the
causes that make this necessary.
All men are created equal; God has not selected anyone to rule over us. God
has granted all men certain rights, and these rights cannot be taken away by any
government. These rights include Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Governments are created by man and get their power from the consent (or
permission) of the governed. When a government stops acting in the interest of
the people, the people have the right to alter or abolish their ties to that
government and form a new government.
Good judgment requires that governments that have served the people for a long
time not be cast aside lightly. But when a long train of abuses by a government
shows that they do not care about the people they govern, it is the people’s right
to throw off the government and form a new one.
The Colonies have suffered in this way for a long time. King George III, the King
of Great Britain has repeatedly made laws and judgments that injure us and we
live under absolute tyranny. To prove this let us list his offences:
He has refused to approve laws that we have passed that will help the Colonies
govern themselves.
He has forbidden the Colonies from putting into effect new laws until he approves
them. Once we submit them for his approval he ignores them.
He has called lawmakers together at unusual places, at strange times and in
uncomfortable places so that we will be fatigued into agreeing with him.
If he doesn’t like what one of the Colonies’ legislatures has done, he disbands
the legislature and sends the lawmakers home. He has done this over and over.
When this happens he refuses to let new lawmakers be elected. This leaves our
Colonies without a local government to protect us.
He has failed to encourage new people to move here and has refused to open up
new areas in the colonies for people to live.
He refuses to appoint judges and once appointed he doesn’t give Colonial judges
the power to decide cases.
He makes judges do what he wants by making them dependent on him for their
salary. Judges are afraid that if they do something he doesn’t like he will
withhold the judge’s pay.
He sends over swarms of government employees who harass us and they are a
burden on our taxes.
Explanation:
http://benjaminallensmith.com/Benjamin_A._Smith/U.S._HIstory_II_CPA_files/Declaration%20Paraphrased%20in%20Modern%20Language.pdf
