The Second Continental Congress
The Declaration of Independence
第二次大陸會議
獨立宣言
壹七七六年七月四日
英國與其美洲殖民地之間的戰爭於壹七七五年四月開始。隨著戰爭的延續，和解的希望逐漸消失，完全獨立已成為殖民地的目標。壹七七六年六月七日，在大陸會議的壹次集會中，維吉尼亞的理查德德．亨利．李提出壹個議案，宣稱：「這些殖民地是自由和獨立的國家，並且按其權利必須是自由和獨立的國家。」六月十日大陸會議指定壹個委員會草擬獨立宣言。實際的起草工作由托馬斯．傑佛遜負責。七月四日獨立宣言獲得通過，並分送十三州的議會簽署及批準。
獨立宣言包括三個部分：第壹部分闡明政治哲學－－民主與自由的哲學，內容深刻動人；第二部分列舉若幹具體的不平事例，以證明喬治三世破壞了美國的自由；第三部分鄭重宣布獨立，並宣誓支持該項宣言。
大陸會議(壹七七六年七月四日)
美利堅合眾國十三個州壹致通過的獨立宣言
在有關人類事務的發展過程中，當壹個民族必須解除其和另壹個民族之間的政治聯系，並在世界各國之間依照自然法則和上帝的意旨，接受獨立和平等的地位時，出於人類輿論的尊重，必須把他們不得不獨立的原因予以宣布。
我們認為下面這些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物者賦予他們若幹不可剝奪的權利，其中包括生命權、自由權和追求幸福的權利。為了保障這些權利，人類才在他們之間建立政府，而政府之正當權力，是經被治理者的同意而產生的。當任何形式的政府對這些目標具破壞作用時，人民便有權力改變或廢除它，以建立壹個新的政府；其賴以奠基的原則，其組織權力的方式，務使人民認為唯有這樣才最可能獲得他們的安全和幸福。為了慎重起見，成立多年的政府，是不應當由於輕微和短暫的原因而予以變更的。過去的壹切經驗也都說明，任何苦難，只要是尚能忍受，人類都寧願容忍，而無意為了本身的權益便廢除他們久已習慣了的政府。但是，當追逐同壹目標的壹連串濫用職權和強取豪奪發生，證明政府企圖把人民置於專制統治之下時，那麽人民就有權利，也有義務推翻這個政府，並為他們未來的安全建立新的保障－－這就是這些殖民地過去逆來順受的情況，也是它們現在不得不改變以前政府制度的原因。當今大不列顛國王的歷史，是接連不斷的傷天害理和強取豪奪的歷史，這些暴行的唯壹目標，就是想在這些州建立專制的暴政。為了證明所言屬實，現把下列事實向公正的世界宣布－－
他拒絕批準對公眾利益最有益、最必要的法律。
他禁止他的總督們批準迫切而極為必要的法律，要不就把這些法律擱置起來暫不生效，等待他的同意；而壹旦這些法律被擱置起來，他對它們就完全置之不理。
他拒絕批準便利廣大地區人民的其它法律，除非那些人民情願放棄自己在立法機關中的代表權；但這種權利對他們有無法估量的價值，而且只有暴君才畏懼這種權利。
他把各州立法團體召集到異乎尋常的、極為不便的、遠離它們檔案庫的地方去開會，唯壹的目的是使他們疲於奔命，不得不順從他的意旨。
他壹再解散各州的議會，因為它們以無畏的堅毅態度反對他侵犯人民的權利。
他在解散各州議會之後，又長期拒絕另選新議會；但立法權是無法取消的，因此此這項項權力仍由壹般人民來行使。其實各州仍然處於危險的境地，既有外來侵略之患，又有發生內亂之憂。
他竭力抑制我們各州增加人口；為此目的，他阻撓外國人入籍法的通過，拒絕批準其它鼓勵外國人移居各州的法律，並提高分配新土地的條件。
他拒絕批準建立司法權力的法律，藉以阻撓司法工作的推行。
他把法官的任期、薪金數額和支付，完全置於他個人意誌的支配之下。
他建立新官署，派遣大批官員，騷擾我們人民，並耗盡人民必要的生活物質。
他在和平時期，未經我們的立法機關同意，就在我們中間維持常備軍。
他力圖使軍隊獨立於民政之外，並淩駕於民政之上。
他同某些人勾結起來把我們置於壹種不適合我們的體制且不為我們的法律所承認的管轄之下；他還批準那些人炮制的各種偽法案來達到以下目的：
在我們中間駐紮大批武裝部隊；
用假審訊來包庇他們，使他們殺害我們各州居民而仍然逍遙法外；
切斷我們同世界各地的貿易；
未經我們同意便向我們強行征稅；
在許多案件中剝奪我們享有陪審制的權益；
羅織罪名押送我們到海外去受審；
在壹個鄰省廢除英國的自由法制，在那裹建立專制政府，並擴大該省的疆界，企圖把該省變成既是壹個樣板又是壹個得心應手的工具，以便進而向這裏的各殖民地推行同樣的極權統治；
取消我們的憲章，廢除我們最寶貴的法律，並且根本上改變我們各州政府的形式；
中止我們自己的立法機關行使權力，宣稱他們自己有權就壹切事宜為我們制定法律。
他宣布我們已不屬他保護之列，並對我們們作戰，從而放棄了在這裏的政務。
他在我們的海域大肆掠奪，蹂躪我們沿海地區，焚燒我們的城鎮，殘害我們人民的生命。
他此時正在運送大批外國傭兵來完成屠殺、破壞和肆虐的勾當，這種勾當早就開始，其殘酷卑劣甚至在最野蠻的時代都難以找到先例。他完全不配作為壹個文明國家的元首。
他在公海上俘虜我們的同胞，強迫他們拿起武器來反對自己的國家，成為殘殺自己親人和朋友的劊子手，或是死於自己的親人和朋友的手下。
他在我們中間煽動內亂，並且竭力挑唆那些殘酷無情、沒有開化的印第安人來殺掠我們邊疆的居民；而眾所周知，印第安人的作戰規律是不分男女老幼，壹律格殺勿論的。
在這些壓迫的每壹陷階段中，我們都是用最謙卑的言辭請求改善；但屢次請求所得到的答復是屢次遭受損害。壹個君主，當他的品格已打上了暴君行為的烙印時，是不配作自由人民的統治者的。
我們不是沒有顧念我們英國的弟兄。我們時常提醒他們，他們的立法機關企圖把無理的管轄權橫加到我們的頭上。我們也曾把我們移民來這裏和在這裏定居的情形告訴他們。我們曾經向他們天生的正義善感和雅量呼籲，我們懇求他們念在同種同宗的份上，棄絕這些掠奪行為，以免影響彼此的關系和往來。但是他們對於這種正義和血緣的呼聲，也同樣充耳不聞。因此，我們實在不得不宣布和他們脫離，並且以以對待世界上其它民族壹樣的態度對待他們：和我們作戰，就是敵人；和我們和好，就是朋友。
因此，我們，在大陸會議下集會的美利堅合眾國代表，以各殖民地善良人民的名義，非經他們授權，向全世界最崇高的正義呼籲，說明我們的嚴正意向，同時鄭重宣布；這些聯合壹致的殖民地從此是自由和獨立的國家，並且按其權利也必須是自由和獨立的國家，它們取消壹切對英國王室效忠的義務，它們和大不列顛國家之間的壹切政治關系從此全部斷絕，而且必須斷絕；作為自由獨立的國家，它們完全有權宣戰、締和、結盟、通商和采取獨立國家有權采取的壹切行動。
為了支持這篇宣言，我們堅決信賴上帝的庇佑，以我們的生命、我們的財產和我們神聖的名譽，彼此宣誓。
英文原文：
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America
In CONGRESS, July 4, 1776
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 and 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 unalienable Rights, that among these
are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights,
Governments are instituted 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 to abolish it,
and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and
organizing its powers in 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 usurpations, pursuing invariably the same
object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their
right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards
for their future security.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the
necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.
The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of
repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of
an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a
candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the
public good.
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 called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and
distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of
fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly
firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be
elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have
returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the
meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions
within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose
obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to
encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new
Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws
for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices,
and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to
harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the consent
of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil
power.
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 Legislation:
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:;
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent;
For depriving us in many cases of the benefits of Trial by Jury;
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences;
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province,
establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as
to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same
absolute rule into these Colonies;
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering
fundamentally the Forms of our Governments;
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with
power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here by declaring us out of his Protection and
waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed
the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete
the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of
cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally
unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear
Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and
Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to
bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose
known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and
conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most
humble terms. Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated
injury. 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.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren.
We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to
extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.
We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement
here.
We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have
conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations,
which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence.
They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must,
therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold
them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
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 the authority of the good
People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare.
That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent
States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British 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.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of
Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and
our sacred Honor.
The signers of the Declaration represented the new states as follows:
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer,
James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison,
Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton