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地摆脱英国的殖民统治的文件。1776年7月4日北美原十三个英属殖民地一致通过该《独立宣言》。
在整个18世纪60年代和18世纪70年代之间，英国和其北美殖民地之间的关系日益紧张。1775年，在莱克星顿和康科德城爆发了战争，这标志着美国之革命战争的开始。虽然最初的想法并不是完全的独立，但是托马斯·佩因的小册子《常识》促使人们相信对于殖民地来说，完全的独立是唯一可能的出路。
1776年6月7日，在第二届大陆会议中，弗吉尼亚州的理查德·亨利·李提出一个议案，宣称：“我们以这些殖民地的善良人民的名义和权力，谨庄严地宣布并昭告：这些联合殖民地从此成为、而且名正言顺地应当成为自由独立的合众国；它们解除对于英王的一切隶属关系，而它们与大不列颠王国之间的一切政治联系亦应从此完全废止。”6月10日大陆会议指定一个委员会草拟独立宣言。实际的起草工作由托马斯．杰佛逊负责。7月4日独立宣言获得通过，并分送十三殖民地的议会签署及批准。这十三个殖民地分别是：新罕布什尔，马萨诸塞，罗德岛，康涅狄格，纽约，新泽西，宾夕法尼亚，特拉华，马里兰，弗吉尼亚，北卡罗来纳，南卡罗来纳，佐治亚。
委员会的成员由马萨诸塞的约翰·亚当斯、宾夕法尼亚的本杰明·富兰克林、弗吉尼亚的杰斐逊、纽约的罗伯特·R·利文斯通和康涅狄格的罗杰·谢尔曼组成，并被组成以起草合适的宣言。杰斐逊起草了很大一部分。在宣言被大陆会议采纳以前，在刑事法庭上被重写，其中一个被移除的篇章涉及奴隶制度。
托马斯·杰斐逊（1743－1826）作为一个包括约翰·亚当斯和本杰明·富兰克林在内的起草委员会的成员，起草了美国《独立宣言》的第一稿。大陆会议对杰斐逊的草稿作了重大改动，特别是在佐治亚州和南卡罗来纳州代表们的坚持下，删去了他对英王乔治三世允许在殖民地存在奴隶制和奴隶买卖的有力谴责。被删去的内容中一部分是这样写的：“他向人性本身发动了残酷的战争，侵犯了一个从未冒犯过他的远方民族的最神圣的生存权和自由权，他诱骗他们，并把他们运往另一半球充当奴隶，或使他们惨死在运送途中。”1776年7月4日，大陆会议通过了这份宣言。
杰斐逊曾写道，《独立宣言》是“吁请世界的裁判”。 自1776年以来，《独立宣言》中所体现的原则就一直在全世界为人传诵。美国的改革家们，不论是出于什么动机，不论是为了废除奴隶制，禁止种族隔离或是要提高妇女的权利，都要向公众提到“人人生而平等”。不论在什么地方，当人民向不民主的统治作斗争时，他们就要用杰斐逊的话来争辩道，政府的“正当权力是经被治者同意所授予的”。
独立宣言包括三个部分：第一部分阐明政治哲学——民主与自由的哲学，内容深刻动人；第二部分列举若干具体的不平等事例，以证明乔治三世破坏了美国的自由；第三部分郑重宣布独立，并宣誓支持该项宣言。
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《独立宣言》英文原文：
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
In Congress； July 4； 1776；
THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
When in the Course of human events； it bees necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands 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。
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 bees 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 the m 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 Des potism； 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。 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 acmodation 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 called together legislative bodies at places unusual； unfortable； and distant from the depository of their public Records； for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into pliance with his measures。
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly； for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people。
He has refused for a long time； after such dissolutions； to cause others to be elected； whereby the Legislative powers； incapable of Annihilation； have returned to the People at large for their exercise； the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without； and convulsions within。
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States； for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners； refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither； and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands 。
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice； by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers。
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone； for the tenure of their offices； and the amount and payment of their salaries。
He has erected a multitude of New Offices； and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our People； and eat out their substance。
He has kept among us； in times of peace； Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures。
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power。
He has bined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution； and unacknowledged by our laws； giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation：
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us：
For protecting them； by a mock Trial； from Punishment for any Murders which they should mit on the Inhabitants of these States：
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world：
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent：
For depriving us in many cases； of the benefits of Trial by Jury：
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences：
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province； establishing therein an Arbitrary government； and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into t hese Colonies：
For taking away our Charters； abolishing our most valuable Laws； and altering fundamentally the forms of our Governments：
For suspending our own Legislatures； and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever。
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 pleat 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 H ead of a civilized nation。
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country； to bee the executioners of their friends and Brethren； or to fall themselves by their Hands。
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us； and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers； the merciless Indian Savages； whose known rule of warfare； is an undistinguished destruction of all ages； sexes and conditions。
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms： Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury。 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。
Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren。 We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us。 We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and sett lement here。 We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity； and we have conjured them by the ties of our mon kindred