The important historical date, July 4, 1776, is designated as the date of the signing of the document we know as the Declaration of Independence. This crucial document was signed by representatives from each of the original thirteen states of the fledging republic which would become known as the United States of America.
To study the document, it is helpful to divide it into sections. It conveniently separates into seven distinct sections. The sections are not titled or even separated spacially on the original, but they each have a definite purpose.
Section I consists of the first paragraph and begins with the famous opening, “When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary . . . ”; this one-sentence-paragraph delivers the purpose for the document: the dissolution of the ties (“Political Bands”) between the United States and Great Britain and that the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” entitles them to take their place as a separate nation “among the Powers of Earth.” But in addition to declaring that the ties be broken, the declarers assert in the last portion of this one-sentence-paragraph that it is only right and proper for them show mankind the reasons that such a dissolution is necessary.
Section II consists of six sentences. The first long, complex sentence beginning again with a famous phrase, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal . . .” claims that human beings have certain rights that are given by God, and the purpose of government is to ensure these rights by “deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed” and when the government becomes an obstacle instead of a defender of those “inalienable rights,” it is the right of the people to abolish such a government and form a new one that will guarantee those rights. The second sentence recognizes that changing a government is not to be taken lightly or begun for trivial causes, especially a government that has been in existence for many years, but it also notes that human nature tends to allow grievances and suffer them in silence, because changing a government is such a profound undertaking. The third sentence insists, however, that “when a long train of Abuses and Usurpations” has reduced the populace to serving a dictator, not only is it the right of the people to change governments, but it is also their duty to do so to insure safety for their future. The fourth sentence asserts that the situation just described has been that of the people making this declaration; they have suffered patiently but cannot continue to suffer the degradations any further. The fifth sentence mentions the King of Great Britain as the culprit who is guilty of “repeated Injuries and Usurpations” which has resulted in “an absolute Tyranny over the States. The sixth and final sentence introduces Section III, which will delineate the abuses “to a candid World.”
Section III lists 18 of the abuses that the King has foisted on the colonies. Here are the first three:
HE has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good.Abuse number 13 has nine parts. Here is abuse number 13 and its first three parts:
HE has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
HE has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People, unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only.
HE has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended LegislationSection IV claims that after every abuse the long suffering populace has “Petitioned for Redress in the most humble Terms.” Yet they have received only further insults from the tyrant. Then they make the bold claim: “A Prince, whose Character is thus marked by every act which may define, a Tyrant, is unfit to be the Ruler of a free People.”
FOR quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us;
FOR protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
FOR cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World.
Section V describes how the new country has also appealed to their fellow British Brethren, but like the King, they too have been “deaf to the Voice of Justice.” Therefore the declarers are dissolving the ties of “consanguinity” and will henceforth hold their British family as they “hold the rest of Mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.”
Section VI is the declaration proper. Because of all that has been so far explained and described, the United States representatives in “General Congress, Assembled” are declaring “that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, FREE AND INDEPENDENT.” They absolve their allegiance and take upon themselves the rights and full power to wage war, declare peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to perform all the duties of a free and sovereign nation.
Section VII lists all the signers of the document. On the original you won’t find the state they represent, but on transcripts the state names are supplied.
As we celebrate July 4th this year, it is a good idea to check out this important document which has influenced the history of the United States so profoundly. Not only is refreshing our memory about our history useful and good for democracy, it is fun and spiritually uplifting.
View Original Copy
Declaration of Independence transcript
______________________________________________________________________________
Books by Linda Sue Grimes:
Jiggery-Jee's Eden Valley Stories
Singing in the Silence: Poems of Faith
______________________________________________________________________________
Save to Del.icio.us
