The Declaration of Independence (abridged form)

Introduction
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the
political bonds 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.
Preamble
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, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes
destructive to 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.

Indictment
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.

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 to 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 kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our
legislature. He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil
power...

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, burned 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 paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totaly unworth the head of a civilized
nation...

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

Denunciation
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren...We have appealed to their native
justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to
disavow these usurpations...
Conclusion
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 the 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 levey 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.

Modern day translation to the Declaration of Independence

Introduction
Sometimes in the course of certain events there comes a time when a certain group feels
the need to dissolve the political bands that have connected them with another, or in other
words split up. We believe that God has entitled us to pursue this course and here are the
reasons why we feel this way.
Preamble
As people that have founded this land we believe certain truths and those should not be
questioned: we believe that everyone is created equal in the sight of God; God has given
us certain rights; the rights of each person need to be respected and cannot be taken from
them. We believe in the right to Life; the right to Liberty; and the right to pursue our own
happiness. We also believe that governments are formed to protect these certain rights
and that the power of the government comes from the power of the people. We also
believe that if the government fails to protect the rights of its people that they people have
the right to change the government. The government can be totally changed if it needs to
be. This happens so that everyone can be happy and safe. Changing the government is no
joking matter because sometimes things have been the way they are for a long time. Even
though sometimes people continue to put up with government that dont operate correctly
it doesnt make it right and changes still need to be made. It is the duty of the people to
make sure that the government treats the people fairly and civilly.
Indictment
We, those who have been putting up with an inoperable government have been patient
and suffered through a lot of things without complaining, but it is our duty to make the
needed changes. It is evident that King George III who is our ruler right now, that he
wants to take all power away from the people and will not listen to our leaders. Here is
the proof for everyone to see:
We have been patient, suffering a long time without complaining. Now it is our duty to
make changes. This King of Great Britain is King George III. He is our present ruler, and
he wants to become even stronger. He has already tried to rule us completely, without
listening to what our American leaders have to say. And we have proof of such evils.
Here are the facts for the whole world to see: (You have a separate translation for the
actual crimes)

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 to 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 kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without

the Consent of our legislatures.

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 & perfidy scarcely paralleled in
the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a
civilized nation.

Denunciation
Through all of these unfair acts that have been placed upon us we have made a great
effort to tell the King how we feel. We wanted to resolve this peacefully but it has only
escalated. A King that does not rule fairly should not be able to rule. We have continued
to warn our friends and family still living in England and still, it has done nothing.
Conclusion
We, as representatives of the United States of America want God to judge our acts. We
declare today that Great Britain will no longer be a ruler over us and that we should be
free and independent states. We will have the power to build our own government and all
the powers that come with government. We will put our trust in God and will be united in
this Declaration of Independence.

Introduction
Sometimes one group of people decide to split off from another group, and to
become an independent country, as the laws of Nature and of God say that they
can. But when this happens, if they want other people to respect them, they
should explain why they are splitting off.

Preamble
We think these things are obviously true:

That all men are created equal

That all men have some rights given to them by God

That among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness.
So whenever any government is getting in the way of these rights, people have the
right to change it or get rid of it, and to make a new government, in whatever way
seems most likely to make them safe and happy.
People should not change their government without a good reason, so people
usually suffer as long as they can under the government they have, rather than
change it. But when there have been a lot of problems for a long time, it is their
right and their duty to throw off that government, and to set up a better
government.

Indictment
We here in America have suffered for a very long time, and now we should
change our government. The king of England has done many bad things to us here is a list:

He doesn't support laws for the people, preferring laws that make him and the
British rich.

He won't let us pass important laws we need now. He's got to sign off on them
and when he doesnt we suffer.
He's refused to let us pass laws affecting large groups of people in our colonies
unless they swore allegiance to him even though theyve had the right to self
govern, clearly showing he's a tyrant.
He's sent the Army to watch over us, when we didn't need or want them.
For disowning our government, and for declaring war on us for having the
desire to self-govern
He has over-fished our waters, burnt up our towns, and destroyed the lives of
many people within our colonies.
Right this very moment, he's sending over a large army of mercenaries with
no morals to kill and torture everyone now that he's ruined our laws
protecting the common man. If you think we've been repressed up to now,
expect the worst you can imagine.

Denunciation
When we ask him to stop, he just keeps on doing more bad things. We have tried
to talk to the other people who live in England. We asked them to stop these
crimes against us, but they have acted as though they were deaf. So we have to
separate from England, and they will be our enemies during the war, though we
hope they'll be our friends when there is peace.

Conclusion
So we think that God will see that we are doing the right thing when we declare
that the United States are now completely independent of the King of England.
We have no more political connection to England at all. And as independent
states, we say that each state has the right to make war, to make peace, to make
alliances with other countries, trade with other countries, and do everything else
that countries do. And we promise that we will fight for our independence with
the help of God - we promise by our lives, our property, and our sacred honor.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Approved by the National Assembly of France, August 26, 1789
The representatives of the French people, as members of the National Assembly, believe
that ignoring the rights of man are the whole reason for public troubles and for dishonest
governments, and have determined to set out and solemnly declare the natural, unalienable,
and sacred rights of man, so that this declaration will always be at the front of society and will
always remind them of their rights and duties; so that the acts of the lawmakers and the
president may be compared at any time with the main goals of all governments and therefore
be more respected, and, lastly, so that the complaints of the citizens, based on simple and
obvious ideas, should help make the constitution better and result in happiness for
everyone. So the National Assembly recognizes and proclaims, in the presence and in the
name of God, the following rights of man and of the citizen:

Articles:
1. Men are born and remain free and with equal rights. Social differences may be
allowed only for the general good.
2. The goal of government is to preserve the natural and unalienable rights of man.
These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
3. The basis of all power comes essentially from the people. No group, nor individual
may exercise any power that does not come directly from the people.
4. Liberty is the freedom to do everything that does not hurt anyone else; therefore the
natural rights of each man has no limits except to make sure the other members of society
get the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law.
5. Law can only ban the things that are hurtful to society. Nothing may be stopped that is
not banned by law, and no one may be forced to do anything thats not stated in the law.
6. Law reflects what the people want. Every citizen has a right to participate personally,
or through his representative, in its creation. The law must be the same for everyone,
whether it protects or punishes. All citizens are allowed to hold government jobs and will be
hired based on their talent and ability.
7. No person should be accused, arrested, or put in jail other than the way the law says it
should be done. Anyone who does this in any other way will be punished. But any person
charged with a crime or arrested legally will give himself up immediately.

8. The law will determine which punishments are necessary and legal, and no one willbe
punished unless its done legally and for a particular crime.
9. People accused of crimes will be considered innocent until proven guilty, if an arrest
seems necessary, the prisoner will be treated as kindly as possible.
10. People will have the freedom of speech regarding their opinions and religious views
as long as they dont disrupt the peace and order of society.
11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the
rights of man. Every person will have the freedom to speak, write and print, but will be held
responsible if they lie.
12. To secure the rights of man, a military will be necessary. This military will be
established for the good of all and not for the personal advantage of the people that run it.
13. Taxes will be necessary for the military and for the government. Everyone will pay
taxes based on their income and no one will be exempt.
14. All the citizens have a right to decide, either personally or by their representatives,
how badly we need taxes, what to use them for, and how to decide how much each person
pays, and how long a tax should last.
15. The people have the right to know exactly what the government officials have done
during their term
16. A society that doesnt follow the law and the separation of powers are not defined
,has no constitution at all.
17. Since property is an unbreakable and sacred right, no one will have their stuff taken
from them unless it absolutely necessary for the public good, and in that case the owner will
be paid fairly for their stuff.