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 of 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 unalientable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty,

and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instututed 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

abolishit, and to instutue new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and

organizing its power is 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

userpations, pursuing inevitably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under

absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw of such Government, and to

provide new guards for their future security.