美国独立宣言.docx

美国独立宣言.docx

《美国独立宣言.docx》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《美国独立宣言.docx（9页珍藏版）》请在冰点文库上搜索。

美国独立宣言

INCONGRESS,JULY4,1776

TheunanimousDeclarationofthethirteenunitedStatesofAmerica

WhenintheCourseofhumaneventsitbecomesnecessaryforonepeopletodissolvethepoliticalbandswhichhaveconnectedthemwithanotherandtoassumeamongthepowersoftheearth,theseparateandequalstationtowhichtheLawsofNatureandofNature'sGodentitlethem,adecentrespecttotheopinionsofmankindrequiresthattheyshoulddeclarethecauseswhichimpelthemtotheseparation.

Weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident,thatallmenarecreatedequal,thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertainunalienableRights,thatamongtheseareLife,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness.--Thattosecuretheserights,GovernmentsareinstitutedamongMen,derivingtheirjustpowersfromtheconsentofthegoverned,--ThatwheneveranyFormofGovernmentbecomesdestructiveoftheseends,itistheRightofthePeopletoalterortoabolishit,andtoinstitutenewGovernment,layingitsfoundationonsuchprinciplesandorganizingitspowersinsuchform,astothemshallseemmostlikelytoeffecttheirSafetyandHappiness.Prudence,indeed,willdictatethatGovernmentslongestablishedshouldnotbechangedforlightandtransientcauses;andaccordinglyallexperiencehathshewnthatmankindaremoredisposedtosuffer,whileevilsaresufferablethantorightthemselvesbyabolishingtheformstowhichtheyareaccustomed.Butwhenalongtrainofabusesandusurpations,pursuinginvariablythesameObjectevincesadesigntoreducethemunderabsoluteDespotism,itistheirright,itistheirduty,tothrowoffsuchGovernment,andtoprovidenewGuardsfortheirfuturesecurity.--SuchhasbeenthepatientsufferanceoftheseColonies;andsuchisnowthenecessitywhichconstrainsthemtoaltertheirformerSystemsofGovernment.ThehistoryofthepresentKingofGreatBritainisahistoryofrepeatedinjuriesandusurpations,allhavingindirectobjecttheestablishmentofanabsoluteTyrannyovertheseStates.Toprovethis,letFactsbesubmittedtoacandidworld.

HehasrefutedhisAssenttoLaws,themostwholesomeandnecessaryforthepublicgood.

HehasforbiddenhisGovernorstopassLawsofimmediateandpressingimportance,unlesssuspendedintheiroperationtillhisAssentshouldbeobtained;andwhensosuspended,hehasutterlyneglectedtoattendtothem.

HehasrefusedtopassotherLawsfortheaccommodationoflargedistrictsofpeople,unlessthosepeoplewouldrelinquishtherightofRepresentationintheLegislature,arightinestimabletothemandformidabletotyrantsonly.

Hehascalledtogetherlegislativebodiesatplacesunusual,uncomfortable,anddistantfromthedepositoryoftheirPublicRecords,forthesolepurposeoffatiguingthemintocompliancewithhismeasures.

HehasdissolvedRepresentativeHousesrepeatedly,foropposingwithmanlyfirmnesshisinvasionsontherightsofthepeople.

Hehasrefusedforalongtime,aftersuchdissolutions,tocauseotherstobeelected,wherebytheLegislativePowers,incapableofAnnihilation,havereturnedtothePeopleatlargefortheirexercise;theStateremaininginthemeantimeexposedtoallthedangersofinvasionfromwithout,andconvulsionswithin.

HehasendeavouredtopreventthepopulationoftheseStates;forthatpurposeobstructingtheLawsforNaturalizationofForeigners;refusingtopassotherstoencouragetheirmigrationshither,andraisingtheconditionsofnewAppropriationsofLands.

HehasobstructedtheAdministrationofJusticebyrefusinghisAssenttoLawsforestablishingJudiciaryPowers.

HehasmadeJudgesdependentonhisWillaloneforthetenureoftheiroffices,andtheamountandpaymentoftheirsalaries.

HehaserectedamultitudeofNewOffices,andsenthitherswarmsofOfficerstoharassourpeopleandeatouttheirsubstance.

Hehaskeptamongus,intimesofpeace,StandingArmieswithouttheConsentofourlegislatures.

HehasaffectedtorendertheMilitaryindependentofandsuperiortotheCivilPower.

Hehascombinedwithotherstosubjectustoajurisdictionforeigntoourconstitution,andunacknowledgedbyourlaws;givinghisAssenttotheirActsofpretendedLegislation:

Forquarteringlargebodiesofarmedtroopsamongus:

Forprotectingthem,byamockTrialfrompunishmentforanyMurderswhichtheyshouldcommitontheInhabitantsoftheseStates:

ForcuttingoffourTradewithallpartsoftheworld:

ForimposingTaxesonuswithoutourConsent:

Fordeprivingusinmanycases,ofthebenefitofTrialbyJury:

FortransportingusbeyondSeastobetriedforpretendedoffences:

ForabolishingthefreeSystemofEnglishLawsinaneighbouringProvince,establishingthereinanArbitrarygovernment,andenlargingitsBoundariessoastorenderitatonceanexampleandfitinstrumentforintroducingthesameabsoluteruleintotheseColonies

FortakingawayourCharters,abolishingourmostvaluableLawsandalteringfundamentallytheFormsofourGovernments:

ForsuspendingourownLegislatures,anddeclaringthemselvesinvestedwithpowertolegislateforusinallcaseswhatsoever.

HehasabdicatedGovernmenthere,bydeclaringusoutofhisProtectionandwagingWaragainstus.

Hehasplunderedourseas,ravagedourCoastsburntourtowns,anddestroyedthelivesofourpeople.

HeisatthistimetransportinglargeArmiesofforeignMercenariestocompleattheworksofdeath,desolation,andtyranny,alreadybegunwithcircumstancesofCruelty&Perfidyscarcelyparalleledinthemostbarbarousages,andtotallyunworthytheHeadofacivilizednation.

HehasconstrainedourfellowCitizenstakenCaptiveonthehighSeastobearArmsagainsttheirCountry,tobecometheexecutionersoftheirfriendsandBrethren,ortofallthemselvesbytheirHands.

Hehasexciteddomesticinsurrectionsamongstus,andhasendeavouredtobringontheinhabitantsofourfrontiers,themercilessIndianSavageswhoseknownruleofwarfare,isanundistinguisheddestructionofallages,sexesandconditions.

IneverystageoftheseOppressionsWehavePetitionedforRedressinthemosthumbleterms:

OurrepeatedPetitionshavebeenansweredonlybyrepeatedinjury.APrince,whosecharacteristhusmarkedbyeveryactwhichmaydefineaTyrant,isunfittobetherulerofafreepeople.

NorhaveWebeenwantinginattentionstoourBritishbrethren.Wehavewarnedthemfromtimetotimeofattemptsbytheirlegislaturetoextendanunwarrantablejurisdictionoverus.Wehaveremindedthemofthecircumstancesofouremigrationandsettlementhere.Wehaveappealedtotheirnativejusticeandmagnanimity,andwehaveconjuredthembythetiesofourcommonkindred.todisavowtheseusurpations,whichwouldinevitablyinterruptourconnectionsandcorrespondence.Theytoohavebeendeaftothevoiceofjusticeandofconsanguinity.Wemust,therefore,acquiesceinthenecessity,whichdenouncesourSeparation,andholdthem,asweholdtherestofmankind,EnemiesinWar,inPeaceFriends.

We,therefore,theRepresentativesoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,inGeneralCongress,Assembled,appealingtotheSupremeJudgeoftheworldfortherectitudeofourintentions,do,intheName,andbyAuthorityofthegoodPeopleoftheseColonies,solemnlypublishanddeclare,ThattheseUnitedColoniesare,andofRightoughttobeFreeandIndependentStates,thattheyareAbsolvedfromallAllegiancetotheBritishCrown,andthatallpoliticalconnectionbetweenthemandtheStateofGreatBritain,isandoughttobetotallydissolved;andthatasFreeandIndependentStates,theyhavefullPowertolevyWar,concludePeacecontractAlliances,establishCommerce,andtodoallotherActsandThingswhichIndependentStatesmayofrightdo.--AndforthesupportofthisDeclaration,withafirmrelianceontheprotectionofDivineProvidence,wemutuallypledgetoeachotherourLives,ourFortunesandoursacredHonor.

--JohnHancock

NewHampshire:

JosiahBartlett,WilliamWhipple,MatthewThornton

Massachusetts:

JohnHancock,SamuelAdams,JohnAdams,RobertTreatPaine,ElbridgeGerry

RhodeIsland:

StephenHopkins,WilliamEllery

Connecticut:

RogerSherman,SamuelHuntington,WilliamWilliams,OliverWolcott

NewYork:

WilliamFloyd,PhilipLivingston,FrancisLewis,LewisMorris

NewJersey:

RichardStockton,JohnWitherspoon,FrancisHopkinson,JohnHart,AbrahamClark

Pennsylvania:

RobertMorris,BenjaminRush,BenjaminFranklin,JohnMorton,GeorgeClymer,JamesSmith,GeorgeTaylor,JamesWilson,GeorgeRoss

Delaware:

CaesarRodney,GeorgeRead,ThomasMcKean

Maryland:

SamuelChase,WilliamPaca,ThomasStone,CharlesCarrollofCarrollton

Virginia:

GeorgeWythe,RichardHenryLee,ThomasJefferson,BenjaminHarrison,ThomasNelson,Jr.,FrancisLightfootLee,CarterBraxton

NorthCarolina:

WilliamHooper,JosephHewes,JohnPenn

SouthCarolina:

EdwardRutledge,ThomasHeyward,Jr.,ThomasLynch,Jr.,ArthurMiddleton

Georgia:

ButtonGwinnett,LymanHall,GeorgeWalton

在人类历史事件的进程中，当一个民族必须解除其与另一个民族之间迄今所存在着的政治联系，而在世界列国之中取得那“自然法则”和“自然神明”所规定给他们的独立与平等的地位时，就有一种真诚的尊重人类公意的心理，要求他们一定要把那些迫使他们不得已而独立的原因宣布出来。

我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的：

人人生而平等，他们都从他们的“造物主”那边被赋予了某些不可转让的权利，其中包括生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。

这句话早已脍炙人口，成为回响在世界的解放号角了。

为了保障这些权利，所以才在人们中间成立政府。

而政府的正当权力，则系得自统治者的同意。

如果遇有任何一种形式的政府变成损害这些目的的话，那末，人民就有权利来改变它或废除它，以建立新的政府。

这新的政府，必须是建立在这样的原则的基础上，并且是按照这样的方式来组织它的权力机关，庶几就人民看来那是最能够促进他们的安全和幸福的。

诚然，谨慎的心理会主宰着人们的意识，认为不应该为了轻微的、暂时的原因而把设立已久的政府予以变更；而过去一切的经验也正是表明，只要当那些罪恶尚可容忍时，人类总是宁愿默然忍受，而不愿废除他们所习惯了的那种政治形式以恢复他们自己的权利。

然而，当一个政府恶贯满盈、倒行逆施、一贯地奉行着那一个目标，显然是企图把人民抑压在绝对专制主义的淫威之下时，人民就有这种权利，人民就有这种义务，来推翻那样的政府，而为他们未来的安全设立新的保障这一段同样经典、精辟的语言，阐述了美国的立国原则，欧洲的“社会契约论”在北美大陆上结出丰硕的果实。

这种立国思想第一次在一份民族独立宣言这样正式的政治文件里被如此全面透彻地阐述。

——。

我们这些殖民地的人民过去一向是默然忍辱吞声，而现在却被迫地必须起来改变原先的政治体制，其原因即在于此。

现今大不列