by the United States of America in Congress Assembled

“ 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 ”

“ 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 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ Draft of the Declaration of Independence by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (1776) . United States Declaration of Independence, broadside printed by John Dunlap (1776) . United States Declaration of Independence, broadside printed by Mary Katherine Goddard (1776) . United States Declaration of Independence, broadside printed by John Holt (1776) (transcription project) . United States Declaration of Independence, broadside printed by Ezekiel Russell (1776) (transcription project) . United States Declaration of Independence, copy engrossed on parchment by Timothy Matlack (1776) . ”