I created the following as a writing project, in which I tried to paraphrase the somewhat archaic language of the Declaration of Independence into modern terms, which would give current-day readers a better sense of just what the colonies were outraged about.
The Declaration of Independence, Paraphrased
When it comes to pass that it becomes necessary for a people to split from another they’ve been united with and assume an independent status that is both natural and right, they owe the world an explanation of just what drove them to it.
We take it as a given that the following things are true: that all human beings are born neither superior nor inferior to others, and that human nature gives all people certain unremovable needs and desires; including, but not limited to, Life, Freedom, and to try to live as happily as possible. It’s in pursuit of these goals that people form governments in the first place, given rightful authority by the peoples’ consent. That whenever any government becomes counter-productive to these goals, it’s right for people to either reform it or disband it and form a new one- one founded on such principles and rules as the people think will most likely provide security and happiness…
Common sense says that no one will take this step lightly, for trivial or temporary reasons. Indeed, people will put up with almost any abuse, as long as they can stand it, rather than resort to such a measure. But when more and more misconduct and overreaching of authority starts to make it look like the plan is to create a police state, then it’s not just a right but a duty for people to rebel against such a government, and create a government that will treat them better.
Here is what we’ve been putting up with in the Colonies, and why we’ve finally resorted to declaring a new government. The track record of the current King of Great Britain is one of repeated violations and takeovers, all pointing to eventually putting the Colonies under a dictatorship. Take a look at what he’s done:
• He refuses to sign into law necessary legislation
• He’s ordered that no law can go into effect until he’s approved it; and then takes his own sweet time getting around to it.
• He refuses to enact laws for new settlements unless they agree not to have any representatives in the legislature- which only a dictator would have a problem with.
• He’s gamed the system by calling legislatures to meet at deliberately inconvenient times and places, hoping to wear them down into passing what he wants.
• When any legislature opposes an illegal measure the King has taken, He simply orders it disbanded. He then refuses to schedule new elections, leaving the people without a functioning government.
• He’s trying to keep the Colonies from growing, by banning new immigration to the Colonies and stalling incorporation of new territories.
• He keeps vetoing all attempts to create an independent judiciary, and keeps judges under his thumb by controlling how long they can serve on the bench and how much and how often they get paid.
• He keeps creating new government departments, all with bureaucrats imposing more expensive regulations on us.
• In peacetime, He’s stationed occupation troops here, without our local government having any say.
• Also, he’s taken steps to remove all civilian oversight on the military.
• He’s set up rubber-stamp legislatures that no one here ever voted for, and declared them the REAL colonial legislatures, so they can push through the following laws:.
[ul]
[li]o Requiring us to feed and house the very occupation troops he’s imposed on us.[/li][li]o When those troops kill colonials, their actions are judged by review boards that always clear them.[/li][li]o All trade not through Britain is banned, we’re forbidden to buy or sell directly from other countries.[/li][li]o Taxes are imposed on us without our having any say in the matter.[/li][li]o In some cases, jury trials have been abolished for those accused of breaking these laws.[/li][li]o In other cases, defendants accused of violating these laws are returned to Britain to be tried under British law.[/li][li]o Abolishing English law and its guarantees of rights in the province of Quebec, setting a precedent for eliminating them in the Colonies.[/li][li]o Unilaterally reneging on the Charters our local governments were established under.[/li][li]o In short, abolishing our legislatures and laws altogether, and claiming they have[/li]the authority to impose anything whatsoever on us.[/ul]
• He has declared martial law in several areas, eliminating civil law altogether; and in those areas ships are seized, property destroyed and people killed.
• And now he’s importing Hessian mercenaries to do his dirty work, like something out of the Dark Ages; this is what the head of a supposedly civilized nation does?
• He’s resorted to summarily drafting Colonial sailors into the Navy, to have to either fight against their own countrymen or be executed themselves.
• He’s even encouraged slave rebellions and Indian attacks against us.
Through it all, we’ve tried petitioning peacefully and lawfully; our pleas for relief been answered by further slaps in the face. A leader who does everything a dictator does is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
We’ve tried taking our case to the British people too. We’ve warned them that Parliament keeps trying to unjustifiably extend its jurisdiction over us. We’ve pointed out we came here precisely so we could have our own local rule. We’ve appealed to the British tradition of justice and big-heartedness, and asked them to protest these infringements, which would ultimately cut us off from our English cousins. But they too have been deaf to the voice of both justice and kinship. We must therefore give in to necessity and proclaim our separation, and treat Britain as we treat the rest of mankind: Enemies in war, friends in peace.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rightness of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly put out 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.