IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

...

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.

Go here for the complete document.

I guess what I really wonder is how the colonists really felt that the time. From what they have outlined, they were very oppressed - be we certainly are today. They had trouble with the ruling class not applying laws to themselves - as our legislators do today. They complained about centralized power that overruled their governors -- as the federal government does to states quite often today.

They complained that the King "erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance" -- as the federal government certainly does today. They complained about the King cutting off trade with all parts of the world -- as our federal government does today.

The American Patriots seemed to face an oppressive king that did many things that our federal government does today. But they had the guts and the willingness to give up everything they had, including their lives, to make this land a better place. I wish we had some true American Patriots today.

Posted by: Ogre at 08:00 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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