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 declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness, That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, 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, 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 Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience has shown that Mankind are more disposed to suffer while Evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursing 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 Security. Such has been the patient Sufferance of the Citizens of these 50 States; and such is now the Necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The History of the present Federal Government is a History of repeated Injuries and Usurpations, all having a direct Object the Establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.

They have passed laws contrary to the limitation of their Powers as delineated in the Constitution of the United States of America.

They have sought to deny the people the right to bear arms in violation of Amendment II of the Constitution of the United States of America.

They have disrupted the balance between the Executive and Legislature by allowing the Executive to enact laws through Executive Orders in violation of the Constitution of the United States of America.

They have undertaken to take unto themselves the powers reserved for the States and the People in violation of Amendment X of the Constitution of the United States of America.

They have permitted the seizure of persons, houses, papers and effects in violation of Amendment IV and Amendment V of the Constitution of the United States of America.

They have used force to subjugate, kill and imprison peaceful dissenters in violation of Amendment I, Amendment V and Amendment VIII of the Constitution of the United States of America.

They have sought to limit the freedom of speech and the rights of the people to peacefully assemble in violation of Amendment I of the Constitution of the United States of America.

They have sought to limit the powers of jurors in violation of Amendment VI of the Constitution of the United States of America.

They have sought to deny the Citizens their inalienable rights in violation of Amendment IX of the Constitution of the United States of America.

They have conspired to force the Citizens to give testimony in personal Income Tax Returns in violation of Amendment V of the Constitution of the United States of America.

We, therefore, the Citizens of the United States of America, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for Rectitude of our Intentions, do solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United States are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the Federal Government, and that all political Connection between them and the Federal Government, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor.

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