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.
Declaration of independence government. The declaration of independence continues to hold historical and political significance. 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. The condition of the parchment declaration of independence is a sign of the place it has held in the hearts of many americans. Drafting the declaration of independence in 1776 became the defining event in thomas jefferson s life.
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. Known as one of america s founding documents the original declaration of independence can be found in the national archives museum in washington dc. Years of public display have faded and worn this treasured document. The united states declaration of independence is the pronouncement adopted by the second continental congress meeting at the pennsylvania state house now known as independence hall in philadelphia pennsylvania on july 4 1776 the declaration explained why the thirteen colonies at war with the kingdom of great britain regarded themselves as thirteen independent sovereign states no longer.
Today it is maintained under the most exacting archival conditions possible. Preamble to the declaration of independence the declaration of independence states the principles on which our government and our identity as americans are based. Drawing on documents such as the virginia declaration of rights state and local calls for independence and his own draft of a virginia constitution jefferson wrote a stunning statement of the colonists right to rebel against the british government and establish their own based on the.