John Adams & Declaration of Independence
I started watching the HBO mini-series John Adams last night and was moved to read the Declaration of Independence for the first time in years. What an amazing document, I highly recommend you give it a read again. Here’s a few of my favorite quotes.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for people to dissolve the political bands…declare the causes to the separation
We hold these truths to be self-evident,that all men are created equal,that they are endowed bytheir Creator with certain unalienable Rights.
Among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…Governments are instituted among Men, their powers from 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
Institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles…most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness
[Here’s a few reasons for independence]
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
For Quartering bodies of troops among us. For imposing Taxes on us without Consent. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world
He has plundered our seas, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries.
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.
We, the Representatives of the United States of America, solemnly declare, That these United Colonies are Free and Independent States
We are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all connection between them and the State of Britain totally dissolved
And for the support of this Declaration, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
