# \[signed\] John Hancock, et. al. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 4, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signed-john-hancock-et-al/253447 "2004-07-04T03:52:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signed-john-hancock-et-al/253447/1 "2004-07-04T03:52:59Z")
**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 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signed-john-hancock-et-al/253447/2 "2004-07-04T05:22:59Z")
You’re selling what now? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signed-john-hancock-et-al/253447/3 "2004-07-04T07:11:25Z")
Good to know. I hereby declare myself Mayor of Orlando. Bow down before me, **Ivylass** and company. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signed-john-hancock-et-al/253447/4 "2004-07-04T07:20:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You’re selling what now? Independence, of course! [sub]Vote yes … vote yes … vote yes for independency.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signed-john-hancock-et-al/253447/5 "2004-07-04T07:40:50Z")
> [@iampunha](#): > > Independence, of course! > > [sub]Vote yes … vote yes … vote yes for independency.[/sub] _whew_ Glad SOMEone recognized the text. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signed-john-hancock-et-al/253447/6 "2004-07-04T07:44:49Z")
I read it every year. It’s quite a document. ---
**Author:** ![Neidhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Neidhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neidhart)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2004, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signed-john-hancock-et-al/253447/7 "2004-07-04T11:50:36Z")
Aah, Britain got a bad rap. I’m sure Hancock &c. would have come to their senses after sobering up. 😃