was On June 7, 1776, more than a year after the battles of Lexington and Concord, Richard Henry Lee introduced in the Continental Congress a resolution which stated that "The united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states." A committee appointed on June 10th to draw up a formal declaration of independence. The actual composition of this document was the work of Thomas Jefferson. John Adams writing to his wife said, "Yesterday, the greatest question was decided which ever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was debated among men. The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America." The preamble to the Declaration, slightly amended and adopted July 4, 1776, in the form we have to-day, runs as follows: 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 inalienable 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 shown, 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. Then, after giving a list of the wrongs suffered by the Colonies at the hands of the British government, the Declaration concludes as follows: 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 THOMAS JEFFERSON 9 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. QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES 1. Did the American leaders have any thought of separation from Great Britain at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War? 2. What was the attitude of the British people toward the Colonists? 3. What was the attitude of the British government? DECLARATION OF THE CAUSES AND THOMAS JEFFERSON June 23, 1775, a committee was appointed by the president of the Continental Congress "to draw up a declaration, to be published by General Washington upon his arrival at the camp before Boston." The report was brought in the next day, and, after debate, was recommitted, and Dickinson and Jefferson added to the committee. A draft prepared by Jefferson being thought by Dickinson to be too outspoken, the latter prepared a new one, retaining, however, the closing |