"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; and accordingly all experience hath shewn 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." -- Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people should be considered equal in that they are endowed by their existence with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights, governments are instituted among people, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right and duty of the people to alter or to abolish said government, and to institute a new form of government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form as to them (the people) shall seem most likely to promote 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 humanity is more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the government to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of government abuses and usurpations suggests a deliberate conspiracy to reduce the people to a state of despotism by denying them any of their unalienable rights, it is the right of the people, and it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new safeguards for their future well-being.