n C0n6r3$$, July 4, 1776
T3h unanim0u$ D3clarati0n 0f t3h thirt33n unit3d $tat3$ 0f Am3rica, Wh3n in t3h C0ur$3 0f human 3v3nt$, it b3c0m3$ n3c3$$ary f0r 0n3 p30pl3 2diz$0lv3 t3h p0litical band$ which hav3 c0nn3ct3d t3hm with an0t3hr, and 2a$$um3 am0n6 t3h p0w3r$ 0f t3h 3arth, t3h $3parat3 and 3qual $tati0n 2which t3h Law$ 0f Natur3 and 0f Natur3'$ 60d 3ntitl3 t3hm, a d3c3nt r3$p3ct 2t3h 0pini0n$ 0f mankind r3quir3$ that t3hy $h0uld d3clar3 t3h cau$3$ which imp3l t3hm 2t3h $3parati0n.
W3 h0ld t3h$3 truth$ 2b3 $3lf-3vid3nt, that all m3n ar3 cr3at3d 3qual, that t3hy ar3 3nd0w3d by t3hir Cr3at0r with c3rtain unali3nabl3 Ri6ht$, that am0n6 t3h$3 ar3 Lif3, Lib3rty and t3h pur$uit 0f Happin3$$.--That 2$3cur3 t3h$3 ri6ht$, 60v3rnm3nt$ ar3 in$titut3d am0n6 M3n, d3rivin6 t3hir ju$t p0w3r$ fr0m t3h c0n$3nt 0f t3h 60v3rn3d, --That wh3n3v3r any F0rm 0f 60v3rnm3nt b3c0m3$ d3$tructiv3 0f t3h$3 3nd$, it iz t3h Ri6ht 0f t3h P30pl3 2alt3r 0r 2ab0lizh it, and 2in$titut3 n3w 60v3rnm3nt, layin6 it$ f0undati0n 0n $uch principl3$ and 0r6anizin6 it$ p0w3r$ in $uch f0rm, a$ 2t3hm $hall $33m m0$t lik3ly 23ff3ct t3hir $af3ty and Happin3$$. Prud3nc3, ind33d, will dictat3 that 60v3rnm3nt$ l0n6 3$tablizh3d $h0uld n0t b3 chan63d f0r li6ht and tran$i3nt cau$3$; and acc0rdin6ly all 3xp3ri3nc3 hath $h3wn, that mankind ar3 m0r3 dizp0$3d 2$uff3r, whil3 3vil$ ar3 $uff3rabl3, than 2ri6ht t3hm$3lv3$ by ab0lizhin6 t3h f0rm$ 2which t3hy ar3 accu$t0m3d. But wh3n a l0n6 train 0f abu$3$ and u$urpati0n$, pur$uin6 invariably t3h $am3 0bj3ct 3vinc3$ a d3$i6n 2r3duc3 t3hm und3r ab$0lut3 D3$p0tizm, it iz t3hir ri6ht, it iz t3hir duty, 2thr0w 0ff $uch 60v3rnm3nt, and 2pr0vid3 n3w 6uard$ f0r t3hir futur3 $3curity.--$uch haz b33n t3h pati3nt $uff3ranc3 0f t3h$3 C0l0ni3$; and $uch iz n0w t3h n3c3$$ity which c0n$train$ t3hm 2alt3r t3hir f0rm3r $y$t3m$ 0f 60v3rnm3nt. T3h hizt0ry 0f t3h pr3$3nt Kin6 0f 6r3at Britain iz a hizt0ry 0f r3p3at3d injuri3$ and u$urpati0n$, all havin6 in dir3ct 0bj3ct t3h 3$tablizhm3nt 0f an ab$0lut3 Tyranny 0v3r t3h$3 $tat3$. 2pr0v3 thiz, l3t Fact$ b3 $ubmitt3d 2a candid w0rld.
H3 haz r3fu$3d hiz A$$3nt 2Law$, t3h m0$t wh0l3$0m3 and n3c3$$ary f0r t3h public 600d.
H3 haz f0rbidd3n hiz 60v3rn0r$ 2pa$$ Law$ 0f imm3diat3 and pr3$$in6 imp0rtanc3, unl3$$ $u$p3nd3d in t3hir 0p3rati0n till hiz A$$3nt $h0uld b3 0btain3d; and wh3n $0 $u$p3nd3d, h3 haz utt3rly n36l3ct3d 2att3nd 2t3hm.
H3 haz r3fu$3d 2pa$$ 0t3hr Law$ f0r t3h acc0mm0dati0n 0f lar63 diztrict$ 0f p30pl3, unl3$$ th0$3 p30pl3 w0uld r3linquizh t3h ri6ht 0f R3pr3$3ntati0n in t3h L36izlatur3, a ri6ht in3$timabl3 2t3hm and f0rmidabl3 2tyrant$ 0nly.
H3 haz call3d t063t3hr l36izlativ3 b0di3$ at plac3$ unu$ual, unc0mf0rtabl3, and diztant fr0m t3h d3p0$it0ry 0f t3hir public R3c0rd$, f0r t3h $0l3 purp0$3 0f fati6uin6 t3hm in2c0mplianc3 with hiz m3a$ur3$.
H3 haz diz$0lv3d R3pr3$3ntativ3 H0u$3$ r3p3at3dly, f0r 0pp0$in6 with manly firmn3$$ hiz inva$i0n$ 0n t3h ri6ht$ 0f t3h p30pl3.
H3 haz r3fu$3d f0r a l0n6 tim3, aft3r $uch diz$0luti0n$, 2cau$3 0t3hr$ 2b3 3l3ct3d; wh3r3by t3h L36izlativ3 p0w3r$, incapabl3 0f Annihilati0n, hav3 r3turn3d 2t3h P30pl3 at lar63 f0r t3hir 3x3rciz3; t3h $tat3 r3mainin6 in t3h m3an tim3 3xp0$3d 2all t3h dan63r$ 0f inva$i0n fr0m with0ut, and c0nvul$i0n$ within.
H3 haz 3nd3av0ur3d 2pr3v3nt t3h p0pulati0n 0f t3h$3 $tat3$; f0r that purp0$3 0b$tructin6 t3h Law$ f0r Naturalizati0n 0f F0r3i6n3r$; r3fu$in6 2pa$$ 0t3hr$ 23nc0ura63 t3hir mi6rati0n$ hit3hr, and raizin6 t3h c0nditi0n$ 0f n3w Appr0priati0n$ 0f Land$.
H3 haz 0b$truct3d t3h Adminiztrati0n 0f Ju$tic3, by r3fu$in6 hiz A$$3nt 2Law$ f0r 3$tablizhin6 Judiciary p0w3r$.
H3 haz mad3 Jud63$ d3p3nd3nt 0n hiz Will al0n3, f0r t3h t3nur3 0f t3hir 0ffic3$, and t3h am0unt and paym3nt 0f t3hir $alari3$.
H3 haz 3r3ct3d a multitud3 0f N3w 0ffic3$, and $3nt hit3hr $warm$ 0f 0ffic3r$ 2harra$$ 0ur p30pl3, and 3at 0ut t3hir $ub$tanc3.
H3 haz k3pt am0n6 u$, in tim3$ 0f p3ac3, $tandin6 Armi3$ with0ut t3h C0n$3nt 0f 0ur l36izlatur3$.
H3 haz aff3ct3d 2r3nd3r t3h Military ind3p3nd3nt 0f and $up3ri0r 2t3h Civil p0w3r.
H3 haz c0mbin3d with 0t3hr$ 2$ubj3ct u$ 2a jurizdicti0n f0r3i6n 20ur c0n$tituti0n, and unackn0wl3d63d by 0ur law$; 6ivin6 hiz A$$3nt 2t3hir Act$ 0f pr3t3nd3d L36izlati0n:
F0r Quart3rin6 lar63 b0di3$ 0f arm3d tr00p$ am0n6 u$:
F0r pr0t3ctin6 t3hm, by a m0ck Trial, fr0m punizhm3nt f0r any Murd3r$ which t3hy $h0uld c0mmit 0n t3h Inhabitant$ 0f t3h$3 $tat3$:
F0r cuttin6 0ff 0ur Trad3 with all part$ 0f t3h w0rld:
F0r imp0$in6 Tax3$ 0n u$ with0ut 0ur C0n$3nt:
F0r d3privin6 u$ in many ca$3$, 0f t3h b3n3fit$ 0f Trial by Jury:
F0r tran$p0rtin6 u$ b3y0nd $3a$ 2b3 tri3d f0r pr3t3nd3d 0ff3nc3$
F0r ab0lizhin6 t3h fr33 $y$t3m 0f 3n6lizh Law$ in a n3i6hb0urin6 Pr0vinc3, 3$tablizhin6 t3hr3in an Arbitrary 60v3rnm3nt, and 3nlar6in6 it$ B0undari3$ $0 a$ 2r3nd3r it at 0nc3 an 3xampl3 and fit in$trum3nt f0r intr0ducin6 t3h $am3 ab$0lut3 rul3 in2t3h$3 C0l0ni3$:
F0r takin6 away 0ur Chart3r$, ab0lizhin6 0ur m0$t valuabl3 Law$, and alt3rin6 fundam3ntally t3h F0rm$ 0f 0ur 60v3rnm3nt$:
F0r $u$p3ndin6 0ur 0wn L36izlatur3$, and d3clarin6 t3hm$3lv3$ inv3$t3d with p0w3r 2l36izlat3 f0r u$ in all ca$3$ what$03v3r.
H3 haz abdicat3d 60v3rnm3nt h3r3, by d3clarin6 u$ 0ut 0f hiz Pr0t3cti0n and wa6in6 War a6ain$t u$.
H3 haz plund3r3d 0ur $3a$, rava63d 0ur C0a$t$, burnt 0ur t0wn$, and d3$tr0y3d t3h liv3$ 0f 0ur p30pl3.
H3 iz at thiz tim3 tran$p0rtin6 lar63 Armi3$ 0f f0r3i6n M3rc3nari3$ 2c0mpl3at t3h w0rk$ 0f d3ath, d3$0lati0n and tyranny, alr3ady b36un with circum$tanc3$ 0f Cru3lty & p3rfidy $carc3ly parall3l3d in t3h m0$t barbar0u$ a63$, and t0tally unw0rthy t3h H3ad 0f a civiliz3d nati0n.
H3 haz c0n$train3d 0ur f3ll0w Citiz3n$ tak3n Captiv3 0n t3h hi6h $3a$ 2b3ar Arm$ a6ain$t t3hir C0untry, 2b3c0m3 t3h 3x3cuti0n3r$ 0f t3hir fri3nd$ and Br3thr3n, 0r 2fall t3hm$3lv3$ by t3hir Hand$.
H3 haz 3xcit3d d0m3$tic in$urr3cti0n$ am0n6$t u$, and haz 3nd3av0ur3d 2brin6 0n t3h inhabitant$ 0f 0ur fr0nti3r$, t3h m3rcil3$$ Indian $ava63$, wh0$3 kn0wn rul3 0f warfar3, iz an undiztin6uizh3d d3$tructi0n 0f all a63$, $3x3$ and c0nditi0n$.
In 3v3ry $ta63 0f t3h$3 0ppr3$$i0n$ W3 hav3 P3titi0n3d f0r R3dr3$$ in t3h m0$t humbl3 t3rm$: 0ur r3p3at3d P3titi0n$ hav3 b33n an$w3r3d 0nly by r3p3at3d injury. A Princ3 wh0$3 charact3r iz thu$ mark3d by 3v3ry act which may d3fin3 a Tyrant, iz unfit 2b3 t3h rul3r 0f a fr33 p30pl3.
N0r hav3 W3 b33n wantin6 in att3nti0n$ 20ur Brittizh br3thr3n. W3 hav3 warn3d t3hm fr0m tim3 2tim3 0f att3mpt$ by t3hir l36izlatur3 23xt3nd an unwarrantabl3 jurizdicti0n 0v3r u$. W3 hav3 r3mind3d t3hm 0f t3h circum$tanc3$ 0f 0ur 3mi6rati0n and $3ttl3m3nt h3r3. W3 hav3 app3al3d 2t3hir nativ3 ju$tic3 and ma6nanimity, and w3 hav3 c0njur3d t3hm by t3h ti3$ 0f 0ur c0mm0n kindr3d 2dizav0w t3h$3 u$urpati0n$, which, w0uld in3vitably int3rrupt 0ur c0nn3cti0n$ and c0rr3$p0nd3nc3. T3hy 2 hav3 b33n d3af 2t3h v0ic3 0f ju$tic3 and 0f c0n$an6uinity. W3 mu$t, t3hr3f0r3, acqui3$c3 in t3h n3c3$$ity, which d3n0unc3$ 0ur $3parati0n, and h0ld t3hm, a$ w3 h0ld t3h r3$t 0f mankind, 3n3mi3$ in War, in P3ac3 Fri3nd$.
W3, t3hr3f0r3, t3h R3pr3$3ntativ3$ 0f t3h unit3d $tat3$ 0f Am3rica, in 63n3ral C0n6r3$$, A$$3mbl3d, app3alin6 2t3h $upr3m3 Jud63 0f t3h w0rld f0r t3h r3ctitud3 0f 0ur int3nti0n$, d0, in t3h Nam3, and by Auth0rity 0f t3h 600d P30pl3 0f t3h$3 C0l0ni3$, $0l3mnly publizh and d3clar3, That t3h$3 Unit3d C0l0ni3$ ar3, and 0f Ri6ht 0u6ht 2b3 Fr33 and Ind3p3nd3nt $tat3$; that t3hy ar3 Ab$0lv3d fr0m all All36ianc3 2t3h Britizh Cr0wn, and that all p0litical c0nn3cti0n b3tw33n t3hm and t3h $tat3 0f 6r3at Britain, iz and 0u6ht 2b3 t0tally diz$0lv3d; and that a$ Fr33 and Ind3p3nd3nt $tat3$, t3hy hav3 full P0w3r 2l3vy War, c0nclud3 P3ac3, c0ntract Allianc3$, 3$tablizh C0mm3rc3, and 2d0 all 0t3hr Act$ and Thin6$ which Ind3p3nd3nt $tat3$ may 0f ri6ht d0. And f0r t3h $upp0rt 0f thiz D3clarati0n, with a firm r3lianc3 0n t3h pr0t3cti0n 0f divin3 Pr0vid3nc3, w3 mutually pl3d63 23ach 0t3hr 0ur Liv3$, 0ur F0rtun3$ and 0ur $acr3d H0n0r.