我們認為這些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，他們都從他們的“造物主”那邊被賦予了某些不可轉讓的權利，其中包括生命權、自由權和追求幸福的權利。這句話早已膾炙人口，成為回響在世界的解放號角了。為了保障這些權利，所以才在人們中間成立政府。而政府的正當權力，則系得自統治者的同意。如果遇有任何壹種形式的政府變成損害這些目的的話，那末，人民就有權利來改變它或廢除它，以建立新的政府。這新的政府，必須是建立在這樣的原則的基礎上，並且是按照這樣的方式來組織它的權力機關，庶幾就人民看來那是最能夠促進他們的安全和幸福的。誠然，謹慎的心理會主宰著人們的意識，認為不應該為了輕微的、暫時的原因而把設立已久的政府予以變更；而過去壹切的經驗也正是表明，只要當那些罪惡尚可容忍時，人類總是寧願默然忍受，而不願廢除他們所習慣了的那種政治形式以恢復他們自己的權利。然而，當壹個政府惡貫滿盈、倒行逆施、壹貫地奉行著那壹個目標，顯然是企圖把人民抑壓在絕對專制主義的淫威之下時，人民就有這種權利，人民就有這種義務，來推翻那樣的政府，而為他們未來的安全設立新的保障這壹段同樣經典、精辟的語言，闡述了美國的立國原則，歐洲的“社會契約論”在北美大陸上結出豐碩的果實。?
這種立國思想第壹次在壹份民族獨立宣言這樣正式的政治文件裏被如此全面透徹地闡述。——。我們這些殖民地的人民過去壹向是默然忍辱吞聲，而現在卻被迫地必須起來改變原先的政治體制，其原因即在於此。現今大不列顛國王(喬治三世)的歷史，就是壹部怙惡不悛、倒行逆施的歷史，他那壹切的措施都只有壹個直接的目的，即在我們各州建立壹種絕對專制的統治。為了證明這壹點，讓我們把具體的事實臚陳於公正的世界人士之前：下面開始列舉英王在殖民地所犯下的罪惡，而這成為美國獨立的主要依據，也是《獨立宣言》的重要組成部分。?
他壹向拒絕批準那些對於公***福利最有用和最必要的法律。?
他壹向禁止他的總督們批準那些緊急而迫切需要的法令，除非是那些法令在未得其本人同意以前，暫緩發生效力；而在這樣暫緩生效的期間，他又完全把那些法令置之不理。?
他壹向拒絕批準其他的把廣大地區供人民移居墾殖的法令，除非那些人民願意放棄其立法機關中的代表權。此項代表權對人民來說實具有無可估量的意義，而只有對暴君來說才是可怕的。?
他壹向是把各州的立法團體召集到那些特別的、不方便的、遠離其公文檔案庫的地方去開會。其惟壹目的就在使那些立法團體疲於奔命，以服從他的指使。?
他屢次解散各州的議會，因為這些議會曾以剛強不屈的堅毅的精神，反抗他那對於人民權利的侵犯。?
他在解散各州的議會以後，又長時期地不讓人民另行選舉；這樣，那不可抹殺的“立法權”便又重新回到廣大人民的手中，歸人民自己來施行了；而這時各州仍然險象環生，外有侵略的威脅，內有動亂的危機。?
他壹向抑制各州人口的增加；為此目的，他阻止批準“外籍人歸化法案”，他又拒絕批準其他的鼓勵人民移植的法令，並且更提高了新的“土地分配法令”的限制條例。?
他拒絕批準那些設置司法權力機關的法案，借此來阻止司法工作的執行。到這裏為止，宣言主要歷數英王在法治上，包括立法、司法方面的專制與**，這從壹個側面說明了殖民地人民民主觀念、權利義務觀念的成熟。?
他壹向要使法官的任期年限及其薪金數額，完全由他個人的意誌來決定。?
他濫設了許多新的官職，派了大批的官吏到這邊來鉗制我們人民，並且盤食我們的民脂民膏。?
在和平時期，他不得到我們立法機關的同意，就把常備軍駐屯在我們各州。?
他壹向是使軍隊不受民政機關的節制，而且淩駕於民政機關之上。?
他壹向與其他人狼狽為奸，要我們屈服在那種與我們的憲法格格不入，並且沒有被我們的法律所承認的管轄權之下；他批準他們那些假冒的法案。?
他把大批的武裝部隊駐紮在我們各州。?
他是用壹種欺騙性的審判來包庇那些武裝部隊，使那些對各州居民犯了任何謀殺罪的人得以逍遙法外。在歷數這些罪狀中，可以看到殖民地人民對“三權分立”原則的信仰和認同。?
他割斷我們與世界各地的貿易。?
他不得到我們的允許就向我們強迫征稅。?
他在許多案件中剝奪了我們在司法上享有“陪審權”的利益。?
他是以“莫須有”的罪名，把我們逮解到海外的地方去受審。?
他在鄰近的地區廢除了那保障自由的英吉利法律體系，在那邊建立了壹個橫暴的政府，並且擴大它的疆界，要使它迅速即成為壹個範例和適當的工具，以便把那同樣專制的統治引用到這些殖民地來。?
他剝奪了我們的“憲章”，廢棄了我們那些寶貴的法令，並且從根本上改變了我們政府的形式。?
他停閉我們自己的立法機關，反而說他們自己有權在任何壹切場合之下為我們制定法律。?
他宣布我們不在其保護範圍之內並且對我們作戰，這樣，他就已經放棄了在這裏的政權了。?
他壹向掠奪我們的海上船舶，騷擾我們的沿海地區，焚毀我們的市鎮，並且殘害我們人民的生命。?
他此刻正在調遣著大量的外籍雇傭軍，要求把我們斬盡殺絕，使我們廬舍為墟，並肆行專制的荼毒。他已經造成了殘民以逞的和背信棄義的氣氛，那在人類歷史上最野蠻的時期都是罕有其匹的。他完全不配做壹個文明國家的元首。?
他壹向強迫我們那些在海上被俘虜的同胞公民們從軍以反抗其本國，充當屠殺其兄弟朋友的劊子手，或者他們自己被其兄弟朋友親手所殺死。?
他壹向煽動我們內部的叛亂，並且壹向竭力勾結我們邊疆上的居民、那些殘忍的印第安蠻族來侵犯。印第安人所著稱的作戰方式，就是不論男女、老幼和情況，壹概毀滅無遺。?
在他施行這些高壓政策的每壹個階段，我們都曾經用最謙卑的詞句籲請改革；然而，我們屢次的籲請，結果所得到的答復卻只是屢次的侮辱。壹個如此罪惡昭彰的君主，其壹切的行為都可以確認為暴君，實不堪做壹個自由民族的統治者。通過閱讀這些歷數的罪惡，可以看到北美殖民地人民在政治上的成熟。同時，作者在羅列時也是經過深思熟慮的，沒有羅列那些具體的罪行，更多的是充滿理性的權利上的訴求，這反而使理由顯得更具有力量，現在讀來仍令人心動。?
我們對於我們的那些英國兄弟們也不是沒有註意的。我們曾經時時警告他們不要企圖用他們的立法程序，把壹種不合法的管轄權橫加到我們身上來。繼續論證采取獨立行動的正當性與合理性。我們曾經提醒他們註意到我們在此地移植和居住的實際情況。我們曾經向他們天生的正義感和俠義精神呼籲，而且我們也曾經用我們那同文同種的親誼向他們懇切陳詞，要求取消那些倒行逆施的暴政，認為那些暴政勢必將使我們之間的聯系和友誼歸於破裂。然而，他們也同樣地把這正義的、血肉之親的呼籲置若罔聞。因此，他們不得不承認與他們有分離的必要，而我們對待他們也如同對待其他的人類壹樣，在戰時是仇敵，在平時則為朋友。理性的力量繼續洋溢其中。在其獨立宣言中，在歷數了宗主國的罪惡後，進而表示願意與其在和平時期和平相處，令人贊嘆宣言起草人的戰略眼光和理性力量。?
因此，我們這些集合在大會中的美利堅合眾國的代表們，籲請世界人士的最高裁判，來判斷我們這些意圖的正義性。開始接近結論了。我們以這些殖民地的善良人民的名義和權力，謹莊嚴地宣布並昭告：這些聯合殖民地從此成為而且名正言順地應當成為自由獨立的合眾國；它們解除對於英王的壹切隸屬關系，而它們與大不列顛王國之間的壹切政治聯系亦應從此完全廢止。作為自由獨立的合眾國，它們享有全權去宣戰、媾和、締結同盟、建立商務關系或采取壹切其他凡為獨立國家所理應采取的行動和事宜。為了擁護此項“宣言”，懷著深信神明福佑的信心，我們謹以我們的生命、財產和神聖的榮譽互相***同保證，永誓不貳。最後的宣言莊嚴神聖而嚴謹到位，十分得體。使人感到巨大的力量。
原文：
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
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 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 refuted 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 mean time 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 benefit 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 compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & 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 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.
--John Hancock
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel 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