The Declaration of Independence- Cliff notes style
On July 4th this year I decided to read the Declaration of Independence. It has been a long time. I decided to write my own cliff notes version of what I see it say (with apologies to President Thomas Jefferson.) I did this for me and my kids, but thought we could all use the reminder of what a great gift we have in a free country.
Sometimes it becomes necessary for people to dissolve the political bands which connect them with one another, because the Laws of Nature and God have given the people a sense that they are losing what is theirs. Decent people will give reasons for the separation so here they are:
We hold these truths to be self-evident presuppositions: all people are created equal and have been blessed by their Creator with certain absolute rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Government is instituted and empowered by the people to help secure these God-given rights.
Whenever a form of government is not making that happen, it is the right of the people to alter the government or abolish it, and to organize a new government that will that will lead to a safe and happy community. It is smart to not react on a whim; sometimes people have to put up with a lot, but when a long train of abuses and getting jerked around reduces the people to scum-like status, it is the right and duty of the people to throw off that government and to provide new guards for future security.
The Colonies have been pretty patient, but it is necessary to alter the present system of government because the present King of Great Britain has repeatedly been a tyrant jerk over the states. For example:
He doesn’t recognize laws that are good for us
When laws are made, he has to assent to them, but he blows them off and leave them hanging
He doesn’t allow laws for large groups of people unless they give up their right to representation which is crazy tyrant-like leadership
He calls government to meetings with lots of hoops and red tape, just to wear people out
He dissolved government offices for opposing him.
He doesn’t allow others to be elected, so things get crazy with no leadership
He tries to keep the colonies small, hurting immigration
He obstructs establishing new courts/judges
He makes judges/courts dependent on the King’s wishes. He holds their paychecks
He creates new offices that harass people
He keeps armies around to intimidate; the military becomes superior to civil power
On the international scale, he seeks to subject us to foreigners
He keeps large bodies of armed troops among us. If soldiers are accused of wrong doing, the King protects them.
He cuts off our trade with all parts of the world
He imposes taxes without our consent
A lot of time, he deprives us of trial by jury
He transports us to Britain for stupid offenses
He abolishes laws we set up and government we establish
He suspends colonial legislatures and legislates “for us”
He does not protect us, but wages war against us
He has messed with our land, boats, town…and the lives of people
He is hiring mercenaries to keep attacking and intimidating us
He has forced colonists taken captive to kill their own
He has got the Indians to attack us too
In every stage of these oppressions, we have humbly asked for redress, but we are constantly blown off and things have gotten worse. A tyrant is unfit to rule a free people. We’ve warned the British legislature of taking unwarranted jurisdiction over us. We reminded them of our history of coming to America. We’ve sought common ground with our brothers, but it has fallen on deaf ears. So they are choosing to be enemies in war while we’d prefer to be friends in peace.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, appealing to God, the Supreme Judge of the world, do, in the name and authority of the good people of the colonies, publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and ought to be, free and independent states. We no longer have allegiance to the British crown. All political connection between the colonies and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.
We, as free and independent states, have the power to levy war, conclude peace, make alliances, establish commerce, and do all all the kinds of things that free states do. And for the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of Divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.
John Hancock, President
and 54 others…
I like your version. It’s much easier to follow, with words ans phrases like “scum-like status” and “he has got the Indians to attack us too”.
Nice job.
-Candice
I had to do a summary on this Declaration, and I appreciate your version. The original is much more difficult to comprehend. Thank you for sharing this outside of your family. =)