英语学习《The Declaration of Independence》(中英文对照完整版)

背景

1760年代與1770年代間，英屬北美十三殖民地與大不列顛王國間之緊張關係持續升高，終在1775年爆發列克星敦和康科德戰役（來克星頓槍聲），成為美國獨立戰爭之先聲。一開始大多數人仍然希望與英國和解[2]，直到強力壓制殖民地自治的不可容忍法案通過後，視不列顛母國為壓迫者的觀點方日益廣佈。麻省1774年之沙福克決議（Suffolk Resolves）與湯馬士·潘恩於1776年出版之小冊常識等文告更加掀起了反不列顛之風潮。

起草與採用

1776年6月，麻薩諸塞州的約翰·亞當斯、賓夕法尼亞州的本傑明·富蘭克林、維吉尼亞州的湯馬士·傑佛遜、紐約州的羅伯特·李文斯頓、康乃迪克州的羅傑·謝爾曼（即後世所稱之五人小組（Committee of Five））聚集起草合宜之文告以宣示獨立之決心。五人小組決議，宣言由湯馬士·傑佛遜獨立起草後對富蘭克林與亞當斯展示，富蘭克林一人即至少修訂了其中48處。傑佛遜後據此謄錄了一份修訂版，由五人小組於1776年6月28日上呈大陸議會。

1776年6月7日，維吉尼亞的理查·亨利·李上呈李氏決議文至大陸議會；7月2日，正式宣告獨立。決議文中寫道：

茲決議：合眾殖民地為，亦應是，自由獨立之國家，其免除自身對不列顛王室之擁戴；其與大不列顛國之一切政治聯繫為，亦應是，徹底無效。

（Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.）

──北美獨立宣言

大陸議會於賓夕法尼亞的獨立廳採納獨立宣言時，曾小幅重寫部分總綱。宣言全文於8月10日送達倫敦。

The Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4,

1776 THE UNANIMOUS

DECLARATION OF THE

THIRTEEN UNITED

STATES OF AMERAICA

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 Nature and 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 they are among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among them, deriving their just power from the 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, 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 hath 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, 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; and such is now the necessity, which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is usurpations, all having in direct object tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.]

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasion on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolution, to cause others to be elected ; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convulsion within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws of naturalizing of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the condition of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent of laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their office, and the amount and payment of their salary.

He has erected a multitude of new officers, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out our substances.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to the civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation.

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us;

For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any murder which they should commit on the inhabitants of these States.

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world;

For imposing taxes on us without our consent;

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury;

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses;

For abolishing the free systems of English laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule these Colonies;

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments;

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely parallel in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

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 excited domestic insurrection amongst us, and has endeavored 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.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petition have been answered only by repeated injury. 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.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpation, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them., as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled , appealing to the supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United States Colonies and Independent States; that they are absolved by from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State, 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.

美国《独立宣言》（中英文完整版）

自由女神像手里拿的书就是《独立宣言》

中英文对照
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

独立宣言

In Congress, July 4, 1776,

大陆会议（一七七六年七月四日）

THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

美利坚合众国十三个州一致通过的独立宣言

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.

在有关人类事务的发展过程中，当一个民族必须解除其和另一个民族之间的政治联系，并在世界各国之间依照自然法则和自然之造物主的意旨，接受独立和平等的地位时，出于人类舆论的尊重，必须把他们不得不独立的原因予以宣布。

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.

我们认为这些真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物者赋予他们若干不可剥夺的权利，其中包括生命权、自由权和追求幸福的权利。

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

为了保障这些权利，人类才在他们之间建立政府，而政府之正当权力，是经被治理者的同意而产生的。

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, 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.

当任何形式的政府对这些目标具破坏作用时，人民便有权力改变或废除它，以建立一个新的政府；其赖以奠基的原则，其组织权力的方式，务使人民认为唯有这样才最可能获得他们的安全和幸福。为了慎重起见，成立多年的政府，是不应当由于轻微和短暂的原因而予以变更的。过去的一切经验也都说明，任何苦难，只要是尚能忍受，人类都宁愿容忍，而无意为了本身的权益便废除他们久已习惯了的政府。但是，当追逐同一目标的一连串滥用职权和强取豪夺发生，证明政府企图把人民置于专制统治之下时，那么人民就有权利，也有义务推翻这个政府，并为他们未来的安全建立新的保障－－

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

这就是这些殖民地过去逆来顺受的情况，也是它们不得不改变政府制度的原因。大不列颠国在位国王的历史，是接连不断的伤天害理和强取豪夺的历史，这些暴行的唯一目标，就是想在这些州建立专制的暴政。为了证明所言属实，现把下列事实向公正的世界宣布－－

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

他拒绝批准对公众利益最有益、最必要的法律。

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

他禁止他的总督们批准迫切而极为必要的法律，要不就把这些法律搁置起来暂不生效，等待他的同意；而一旦这些法律被搁置起来，他对它们就完全置之不理。

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

他拒绝批准便利广大地区人民的其它法律，除非那些人民情愿放弃自己在立法机关中的代表权；但这种权利对他们有无法估量的价值，而且只有暴君才畏惧这种权利。

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

他把各州立法团体召集到异乎寻常的、极为不便的、远离它们档案库的地方去开会，唯一的目的是使他们疲于奔命，不得不顺从他的意旨。

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

他一再解散各州的议会，因为它们以无畏的坚毅态度反对他侵犯人民的权利。

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; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

他在解散各州议会之后，又长期拒绝另选新议会；但立法权是无法取消的，因此这项权力仍由一般人民来行使。其实各州仍然处于危险的境地，既有外来侵略之患，又有发生内乱之忧。

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands .

他竭力抑制我们各州增加人口；为此目的，他阻挠外国人入籍法的通过，拒绝批准其它鼓励外国人移居各州的法律，并提高分配新土地的条件。

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

他拒绝批准建立司法权力的法律，藉以阻挠司法工作的推行。

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

他把法官的任期、薪金数额和支付，完全置于他个人意志的支配之下。

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their substance.

他建立新官署，派遣大批官员，骚扰我们人民，并耗尽人民必要的生活物质。

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

他在和平时期，未经我们的立法机关同意，就在我们中间维持常备军。

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

他力图使军队独立于民政之外，并凌驾于民政之上。

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

他同某些人勾结起来把我们置于一种不适合我们的体制且不为我们的法律所承认的管辖之下；他还批准那些人炮制的各种伪法案来达到以下目的：

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

在我们中间驻扎大批武装部队；

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

用假审讯来包庇他们，使他们杀害我们各州居民而仍然逍遥法外；

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

切断我们同世界各地的贸易；

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

未经我们同意便向我们强行征税；

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

在许多案件中剥夺我们享有陪审制的权益；

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

罗织罪名押送我们到海外去受审；

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

在一个邻省废除英国的自由法制，在那里建立专制政府，并扩大该省的疆界，企图把该省变成既是一个样板又是一个得心应手的工具，以便进而向这里的各殖民地推行同样的极权统治；

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our Governments:

取消我们的宪章，废除我们最宝贵的法律，并且根本上改变我们各州政府的形式；

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

中止我们自己的立法机关行使权力，宣称他们自己有权就一切事宜为我们制定法律。

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

他宣布我们已不属他保护之列，并对我们作战，从而放弃了在这里的政务。

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our people.

他在我们的海域大肆掠夺，蹂躏我们沿海地区，焚烧我们的城镇，残害我们人民的生命。

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

他此时正在运送大批外国佣兵来完成屠杀、破坏和肆虐的老勾当，这种勾当早就开始，其残酷卑劣甚至在最野蛮的时代都难以找到先例。他完全不配作为一个文明国家的元首。

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.

他在公海上俘虏我们的同胞，强迫他们拿起武器来反对自己的国家，成为残杀自己亲人和朋友的刽子手，或是死于自己的亲人和朋友的手下。

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.

他在我们中间煽动内乱，并且竭力挑唆那些残酷无情、没有开化的印第安人来杀掠我们边疆的居民；而众所周知，印第安人的作战律令是不分男女老幼，一律格杀勿论的。

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. 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.

在这些压迫的每一阶段中，我们都是用最谦卑的言辞请愿改善；但屡次请求所得到的答复是屡次遭受损害。一个君主，当他的品格已打上了暴君行为的烙印时，是不配作自由人民的统治者的。

Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpation, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

我们不是没有顾念我们英国的弟兄。我们时常提醒他们，他们的立法机关企图把无理的管辖权横加到我们的头上。我们也曾把我们移民出这里和在这里定居的情形告诉他们。我们曾经向他们天生的正义感和雅量呼吁，我们恳求他们念在同种同宗的份上，弃绝这些掠夺行为，以免影响彼此的关系和往来。但是他们却对于这种正义和血缘的呼声一直充耳不闻。因此，我们实在不得不宣布和他们脱离，并且以对待世界上其它民族一样的态度对待他们：战即为敌；和则为友。

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, 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.

因此，我们，在大陆会议上集会的美利坚合众国代表，以各殖民地善良人民的名义并经他们授权，向全世界最崇高的正义呼吁，说明我们的严正意向，同时郑重宣布；这些联合的殖民地是而且有权成为自由和独立的国家，它们取消一切对英国王室效忠的义务，它们和大不列颠国家之间的一切政治关系从此全部断绝，而且必须断绝；作为自由独立的国家，它们完全有权宣战、缔和、结盟、通商和独立国家有权去做的一切行动。为了支持这篇宣言，我们坚决信赖上帝的庇佑，以我们的生命、我们的财产和我们神圣的名誉，彼此宣誓。

JOHN HANCOCK, President

约翰·汉考克，主席

Attested, CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary

鉴定无误，查尔斯·汤森，秘书

New Hampshire: JOSIAH BARTLETT, WILLIAM WHIPPLE, MATTHEW THORNTON

新罕布夏：约西亚·巴列特、威廉·卫普、马修·松顿

Massachusetts-Bay: SAMUEL ADAMS, JOHN ADAMS, ROBERT TREAT PAINE, ELBRIDGE GERRY

马萨诸塞：塞缪尔·亚当斯、约翰·亚当斯、罗伯特·崔特·潘恩、艾尔布里吉·杰利

Rhode Island: STEPHEN HOPKINS, WILLIAM ELLERY

罗德岛州：史帝芬·霍普金斯、威廉·艾勒里

Connecticut: ROGER SHERMAN, SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, WILLIAM WILLIAMS, OLIVER WOLCOTT

康涅狄格州：罗杰·谢尔曼、山缪·杭丁顿、威廉·威廉斯、奥利佛·渥寇特

Georgia: BUTTON GWINNETT, LYMAN HALL, GEO. WALTON

乔治亚：巴顿·格威内特、李曼·候尔、乔治·沃尔顿

Maryland: SAMUEL CHASE, WILLIAM PACA, THOMAS STONE, CHARLES CARROLL OF CARROLLTON

马里兰：山缪·却斯、威廉·帕卡、托马斯·史东、卡罗顿的查尔斯·卡罗

Virginia: GEORGE WYTHE, RICHARD HENRY LEE, THOMAS JEFFERSON, BENJAMIN HARRISON, THOMAS NELSON, JR., FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE, CARTER BRAXTON.

维吉尼亚：乔治·怀勒、理查·亨利·李、托马斯·杰斐逊、本杰明·哈里森、小托马斯·尼尔森、法兰西斯·莱富特·李、卡特·布瑞斯顿

New York: WILLIAM FLOYD, PHILIP LIVINGSTON, FRANCIS LEWIS, LEWIS MORRIS

纽约：威廉·佛洛依德、菲利普·李文斯顿、法兰西斯·路易斯、路易斯·莫里斯

Pennsylvania: ROBERT MORRIS, BENJAMIN RUSH, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, JOHN MORTON, GEORGE CLYMER, JAMES SMITH, GEORGE TAYLOR, JAMES WILSON, GEORGE ROSS

宾夕法尼亚：罗伯特·莫里斯、本杰明·拉许、本杰明·富兰克林、约翰·莫顿、乔治·克莱谟、詹姆斯·史密斯、乔治·泰勒、詹姆斯·威尔森、乔治·罗斯

Delaware:GEORGEREAD, GUNNING BEDFORD, JOHN DICKINSON, RICHARD BASSETT, JACOB BROOM

特拉华：乔治·瑞德、小冈宁·贝德福德、约翰·迪金森、理查德·巴塞特、雅各布·布朗

North Carolina: WILLIAM HOOPER, JOSEPH HEWES, JOHN PENN

北卡罗莱那：威廉·霍普、约瑟夫·希维斯、约翰·潘恩

South Carolina: EDWARD RUTLEDGE, THOMAS HEYWARD, JR., THOMAS LYNCH, JR., ARTHUR MIDDLETON

南卡罗莱那：爱德华·拉特利奇、托马斯·黑华、小托马斯·林区、亚瑟·米窦顿

New Jersey: RICHARD STOCKTON, JOHN WITHERSPOON, FRANCIS HOPKINS, JOHN HART, ABRAHAM CLARK

新泽西：理查·史塔克顿、约翰·维斯朋、法兰西斯·霍普金斯、约翰·哈特、亚伯拉罕·克拉克

文言文

一七七六年七月四日，於國會內

美洲十三合眾州全體一致宣告：

此時此刻，於人事發展進程中，斯屬必要者，業為解消一群人民與他群間之政治捆縛，並視其地位——基於自然法與造物主之賜——於塵世諸政權間為互不隸屬且相互平等，適切尊重人類宣告獨立的目標理想之需求。

我等之見解為，下述真理不證自明：凡人生而平等，秉造物者之賜，擁諸無可轉讓之權利，包含生命權、自由權、與追尋幸福之權〈（原意為：擁有私人資產之權）〉。

茲確保如此權力，立政府於人民之間，經受統治者之同意取得應有之權力；特此，無論何種政體於何時壞此標的，則人民有權改組或棄絕之，並另立新政府，本此原則，以成此型式之政權，因其影響人民之安全幸福至鉅。

深思熟慮後，當得此論，即建立長久之政府，不應以無足輕重之理由改組，而基於已知之過往，世人寧可容忍積重難返之邪僻。然當連串之濫權者與篡奪者執迷不悟，迫人民屈伏於絕對專制下時，推翻此政府，是其權利，是其義務，並為未來之安穩提供新保障。

此限制已令各殖民地長久不堪，此事現今亦已成為必要，即由人民改變過往政府體制。大不列顛今上長久以來剝下益上，直接導致遍及各州之專制暴政。為證明斯言屬實，且將事實呈交公正之世間。

他拒絕批准，俾益最深且對公眾利益至關緊要之法條。

他禁止轄下總督們通過當前迫切而必要之法條，延宕法條直至得其恩准；而於留中不發期間，他徹底置之不理。

他拒絕通過其他法條以調解廣大行政區內之人民，除非人民放棄於立法機構內之代表權，此為人民至高無上之權，唯暴君畏之懼之。

他於異常、不當、且遠離公共紀綠保管之處所召集民意代表與會，唯一目的為使其因疲於奔命而屈從於他個人之意旨。

他反覆解散議會，因其勇於堅決反對他侵犯民權。

他長期拒絕——於議會解散之後——使其他人當選以讓立法權——無可消滅者——回歸由多數民意行使；國家長期暴露於一切可能導致動亂之危機。

他力阻各州增加人口，為達目的而阻撓外籍歸化法，拒絕通過鼓勵移民內附之法條，並提高撥用新土地之門檻。

他拒絕通過建立司法權之相關法條，藉以妨礙司法。

他置司法於個人意志之下，獨斷決定其職位與薪資之數目與款項。

他設立大量新機構，送來成群的官吏吸取民脂民膏。

他於吾民之間維持常備軍——於承平時期——不經議會同意。

他酬庸軍權，使之自外於，並超逾民權。

他勾結他人，使我等隸屬之司法體制，既逾越於憲法，亦未經律令之認可。御准虛有其表之議會所炮製之種種法案：

於吾民中駐紮大軍：

以偽審判卵翼殺人犯逍遙法外：

切斷吾民與他方之貿易往來：

不經吾民同意即開徵稅賦：

多次剝奪吾民由陪審團聽審之權益：

押送吾民至海外，審以羅織之罪名：

廢止英式自由法制於一鄰省，立專制政府於其中，並擴展其疆域，作為樣板與便宜行事之手段，用以推行相同之威權統治至各殖民地中

奪吾民之憲章，廢止我最具價值之律法並根本改變我政府體制：

中斷我之立法職能，而聲稱他們有權為我一切大小事宜立法。

他拋棄此地之政務，聲明吾民不在其保護之下，對吾民強加戰爭之重荷。

他掠奪我海域，踐踏沿岸，焚燒城鎮，殘民以逞。

他刻正運來大批外籍傭兵以恣意屠戮、蹂躪、與妄為，其手段之虐酷與卑劣幾與最野蠻之時代毫無二致，作為一個文明國家之元首，完全失格。

他強俘吾民於公海且武裝之，以對其母國不利，強令其成為親朋好友之劊子手，或被害者。

他煽動內亂於吾民之間，圖我開疆拓土之民；眾所周知，未開化之印地安野人作戰法則為不分男女老幼格殺勿論。

於承受如此壓迫之時期吾民謙詞請願興革：吾民一再之請願遭回以反覆之傷害。一國之君，其品格已然烙下可稱為殘虐之措施時，已不配作為自由民之統治者。

並非我等未曾顧念我不列顛之同胞。我等曾不時警示其企圖，即外延立法權以將非法之司法管轄權籠罩吾民。我等曾提醒其民，我移民與墾殖者之狀況。我等曾籲其天生之正義感與雅量，我等曾求其以同文同種之情一改前非，其作為，無可避免地影響雙方之關係與往來。他們對情理之聲充耳不聞。我等必須因而順勢宣告與之分離，並待之如待其餘人等，敵視我者敵視之，睦我者睦之，友我者友之。

領銜簽署者們主張（現時人民須改組政府之態勢，不列顛致之），各殖民地有必要推翻與不列顛主權之政治束縛，成為獨立國家。結論之核心，包含於七月二日通過之《李氏決議文》。

我等，美利堅合眾國之代表，召開全員大會，為吾民之公正意向世界最崇高之正義籲求，以各殖民地正直善良民意之名義，及其授權，鄭重發表與宣告，團結之諸殖民地為，亦有權是，自由獨立之國家，有權宣戰、媾和、締盟、建立貿易關係、從事其他獨立國家有權行使之事務。為支持此宣言，以神賜之洲之屏障為堅固依靠，吾等相互託付生命、財產、與榮譽。

語體文

美利堅合眾國13個州的一致宣言：

在人類歷史事件的進程中，當一個民族有必要解除其與另一民族相連結的政治桎梏，並按照自然法則和上帝的意旨在世界列強中取得獨立與平等的地位時，對於人類輿論的真誠與尊重，要求他們必須將不得已而獨立的原因予以宣布。

我們認為以下真理是不言而喻的：人人受造而平等，造物主賦予他們某些不可轉讓的權利，其中包括生命權、自由權和追求幸福的權利。為了保障這些權利，人們建立起來被管轄者同意的政府。任何形式的政府，一旦破壞這些目標，人民就有權利去改變它或廢除它，並建立一個新的政府。新政府所根據的原則及其組織權力的方式，務必使人民認為，唯有這樣才最有可能保障他們的安全與幸福。誠然，慎重會使得一個建立已久的政府不因微不足道的和暫時的原因而被改變，過去的一切經驗也表明，人類更傾向於忍受尚能忍受的苦難，而不去為了拯救自己而廢除他們久己習慣了的政府形式。但是，當濫用職權和巧取豪奪的行為連綿不斷、層出不窮，証明政府追求的目標是企圖把人民置於專制主義統治之下時，人民就有權利，也有義務推翻這樣的政府，並為他們未來的安全建立新的保障。這就是我們這些殖民地的人民一向忍受的苦難，以及現在不得不起來改變原先政治制度的原因。當今大不列顛王國的歷史，就是一部反復重演的傷天害理、巧取豪奪的歷史。所有這些行徑的直接目的，就是要在我們這些州裡建立專制的暴政統治。為了証明這一點，特將事實陳諸於世界公正人士之前：

他拒絕批准那些對公共福利最有益、最必要的法律。

他禁止他的總督們批准那些緊急的、極其重要的法律，除非那些法律在經他同意之前暫停施行；而暫停施行期間，他又對那些法律完全置之不理。

他拒絕批准其它有關人民向廣大地區遷居的法律，除非那些人民願意放棄其在立法機關中的代表權；這種代表權對人民來說具有無可估量的意義，隻有對暴君來說才是可怕的。他把各州立法團體召集到特別的、極不方便的、遠離政府檔案庫的地方去開會，其唯一的目的就是使他們疲於奔命，不得不順從他的旨意。

他屢次解散各州的議會，因為這些議會曾堅定不移地反抗他對人民權利的侵犯。

他在解散各州議會之後，又長時期地不讓人民另選新議會；不可抹煞的立法權力又歸一般民眾行使；而其時各州仍然處於內亂外患的危險之中。

他竭力抑制各州的人口增長；為此目的，他為《外國人歸化法》設置障礙，拒絕批准其它鼓勵外國人移居各州的法律，並提高了重新分配土地的條件。

他拒絕批准確立司法權力的法律，從而阻礙司法行政管理工作。

他使法官的任職年限、薪金數額及支付辦法完全由他個人意志來決定。

他濫設新職，派遣大批官吏來鉗制我們的人民，耗盡我們人民的財力。

他不經我們立法機關的同意，在和平時期就把常備軍駐紮在我們各州。

他力圖使軍隊獨立於政權，並凌駕於政權之上。

他與某些人相互勾結，要我們屈服於一種與我們的體制格格不入、沒有為我們法律所承認的管轄權之下；並且批准那些炮製的假冒法案。

在我們這裡駐紮大量的武裝部隊。

用欺騙性審訊來包庇那些殺害我們各州居民的人，使他們得以逍遙法外。

切斷我們與世界各地的貿易。

未經我們的同意即向我們強行徵稅。

在許多案件中剝奪我們的陪審權力。

以莫須有的罪名押送我們去海外受審。

在鄰近的地區廢除保障自由的英國法律體制，建立專制政府，並擴大其疆界，企圖使它迅即成為一個樣板和一件順手的工具，以便進而把同樣的專制統治引向我們這些殖民地。取消我們的憲章，廢除我們那些最寶貴的法令，並且從根本上改變我們的政府形式。關閉我們自己的立法機關，有權就一切事宜為我們制定法律。

他宣布我們已不受其保護，並對我們開戰。這樣，表明了他已放棄在這裡的政權。

他在我們的海域大肆掠奪，騷擾我們的沿海地區，焚毀我們的城鎮，並殘害我們人民的生命。

他此刻正在調運大量的外籍僱傭軍，意在製造死亡、毀滅和專制暴虐。他已經造成即使在人類歷史上最野蠻的時代都罕見的殘暴和背信棄義的氣氛。他完全不配做一個文明國家的元首。

他強迫在公海上被俘的我們的同胞武裝起來反對自己的國家，充當殘殺自己親人和朋友的劊子手，或者死於自己親人朋友之手。

他在我們之間煽動內亂，並竭力挑動我們的邊疆居民、那些殘酷無情的未開化的印第安人；而印第安人的著名的作戰原則是不分男女老幼、不論何種情況，一概格殺勿論。

在這些高壓政策的每一個階段，我們都曾以最謙卑的言詞請求予以糾正；而每次的籲請所得到的答復都隻是屢遭損害。一個君主，當他的每個行為都已打上暴君的烙印時，是不配做自由人民的統治者。

我們並沒有置我們的英國弟兄於不顧。我們時常提醒他們，他們的立法機構企圖把不合理的管轄權橫加到我們頭上；我們曾提醒他們注意，我們移殖來此和在這裡定居的情況。我們曾經向他們天生的正義感和俠義精神呼籲，懇請他們念及同種同宗的情誼，抵制那些掠奪行為以免影響我們之間的聯系和友誼。但是，他們對這種正義的、血肉之親的呼籲置若罔聞。因此，我們不得不宣布與他們脫離，並且以對待世界上其它民族一樣的態度對待他們：和我們作戰，就是敵人；和我們和好，就是朋友。

因此，我們，集合在大會中的美利堅合眾國的代表們，以這些殖民地的善良人民的名義，並經他們授權，向全世界最祟高的正義人士呼籲，說明我們的嚴正意向，同時庄嚴宣布：這些聯合一致的殖民地從此成為、而且按其權利必須成為自由獨立的國家；它們已經解除一切效忠於英王室的義務，從此完全斷絕、並必須斷絕與大不列顛王國之間的一切政治聯系。作為自由獨立的國家；它們享有全權去宣戰、締和、同盟、通商或採取其它一切獨立國家有權採取的行動。為了擁護此項宣言，我們懷著神明保佑的堅定信心，以我們的生命、我們的財產和我們神聖的榮譽，互相宣誓。