1

KeyWords:
When,inthecourseofhumanevents,itbecomes
_______________________________________________
necessaryforonepeopletodissolvethepoliticalbonds
whichhaveconnectedthemwithanother,andtoassume
_______________________________________________
amongthepowersoftheearth,theseparateandequal
stationtowhichthelawsofnatureandofnature'sGodentitle
_______________________________________________
them,adecentrespecttotheopinionsofmankindrequires
that1atheyshoulddeclarethecauseswhichimpelthemto _______________________________________________
theseparation.
_______________________________________________

NaturalRights
2
_______________________________________________
Weholdthesetruthstobeselfevident,thatallmenare
createdequal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwith
certainunalienablerights,2athatamongthesearelife,liberty _______________________________________________
andthepursuitofhappiness.3Thattosecuretheserights,
_______________________________________________
governmentsareinstitutedamongmen,derivingtheirjust
powersfromtheconsentofthegoverned.

_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

Summary:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Declareyourseparation:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thatwheneveranyformofgovernmentbecomes
destructivetotheseends,itistherightofthepeopletoalter
ortoabolishit,4aandtoinstitutenewgovernment,layingits
foundationonsuchprinciplesandorganizingitspowersin
suchform,astothemshallseemmostlikelytoeffecttheir
safetyandhappiness.5Prudence,indeed,willdictatethat
governmentslongestablishedshouldnotbechangedfor
lightandtransientcauses6andaccordinglyallexperience
hathshownthatmankindaremoredisposedtosuffer,while
evilsaresufferable,thantorightthemselvesbyabolishing
theformstowhichtheyareaccustomed.7Butwhenalong
trainofabusesandusurpations,pursuinginvariablythe
sameobjectevincesadesigntoreducethemunder
absolutedespotism,7aitistheirright,itistheirduty,tothrow
offsuchgovernment,andtoprovidenewguardsfortheir
futuresecurity.

KeyWords:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

Summary:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Defineyourrights:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Suchhasbeenthepatientsufferanceofthesecoloniesand

KeyWords:

suchisnowthenecessitywhichconstrainsthemtoaltertheir
formersystemsofgovernment.10ThehistoryofthepresentKing
ofGreatBritainisahistoryofrepeatedinjuriesandusurpations,
allhavingindirectobjecttheestablishmentofanabsolute
tyrannyoverthesestates.11Toprovethis,letfactsbesubmitted
toacandidworld.
13He has erected a Multitude of New Offices, and sent
hither Swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat
outtheirsubstance.
15He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing
Armies,withouttheConsentofourLegislatures.
16ForcuttingoffourTradewithallPartsoftheWorld.

17

18

_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

ForquarteringlargeBodiesofArmedTroopsamongus.

_______________________________________________
ForimposingTaxesonuswithoutourconsent.
19
For deprivingus,inmanyCases,oftheBenefitsof Trial _______________________________________________
byJury.
20
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for _______________________________________________
Redress...Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by
repeated injury. 21A Prince whose character is thus marked by _______________________________________________
every act which may define aTyrant, is unfit to be the ruler ofa
freepeople.
Summary:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
SpecifyComplaints:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of KeyWords:
consanguinity.27Wemust,therefore,acquiescein thenecessity, _______________________________________________
which denounces ourSeparation,andhold them,asweholdthe _______________________________________________
restofmankind,EnemiesinWar,inPeaceFriends.
_______________________________________________
DeclaringIndependence
28
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of _______________________________________________
America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the _______________________________________________
Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, _______________________________________________
do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People ofthese _______________________________________________
Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United _______________________________________________
Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent _______________________________________________
States 29that they are Absolved from all AllegiancetotheBritish _______________________________________________
Crown, and that all political connection between them and the
State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved and
that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to
levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish
Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which
Independent States may of right do. 30And for thesupportofthis
Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine
Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our
FortunesandoursacredHonor.
Summary:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Declareyourselftobefreeandindependent:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________