This document summarizes the grievances listed in the Declaration of Independence against King George III. In 3 sentences: The document lists numerous ways in which King George III has overreached and abused his power over the American colonies, including refusing to pass important laws, dissolving representative bodies, keeping standing armies, imposing taxes without consent, and asserting absolute authority over the colonies. These abuses establish a history of repeated injuries that make it necessary for the colonies to declare independence and institute a new government. The document is a draft of the Declaration of Independence outlining the causes for separating from Britain and instituting an independent government.

1. Final Version is the Engrossed Copy. Thank you to US History.org for publishing all the
different versions.
E GROSSED (FI AL)
FIRST DRAFT REPORTED DRAFT
COPY
A Declaration by the A Declaration by the In Congress, July 4,1776.
Representatives of the United Representatives of the
States of America in general UNITED STATES OF The Unanimous Declaration
Congress assembled. AMERICA in General of the thirteen United States
Congress assembled. of America.
When in the Course of human When in the course of human When in the Course of human
Events it becomes necessary events it becomes necessary events, it becomes necessary
for a People to advance from for one people to dissolve the for one people to dissolve the
that Subordination, in which political bands which have political bands which have
they have hitherto remained connected them with another connected them with another,
and to assume among the and to assume among the and to assume among the
Powers of the Earth, the powers of the earth the powers of the earth, the
equal and independent separate and equal station to separate and equal station to
Station to which the Laws of which the laws of nature and which the Laws of Nature
Nature and of Nature's God of nature's God entitle them, and of Nature's God entitle
entitle them, a decent Respect a decent respect to the them, a decent respect to the
to the opinions of Mankind opinions of mankind requires opinions of mankind requires
requires that they should that they should declare the that they should declare the
declare the Causes, which causes which impel them to causes which impel them to
impell them to the Change. the separation. the separation.
We hold these Truths to be We hold these truths to be We hold these truths to be
self evident; that all Men are self-evident that all men are self-evident, that all men are
created equal and created equal; that they are created equal, that they are
independent; that from that endowed by their creator with endowed by their Creator
equal Creation they derive inherent & inalienable rights, with certain unalienable
Rights inherent and that among these are life, rights, that among these are
unalienable; among which are liberty, and the pursuit of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit
the Preservation of Life, and happiness; that to secure of Happiness. That to secure
Liberty, and the Pursuit of these rights governments are these rights, Governments are
Happiness; that to secure instituted among men instituted among Men,
these Ends, Governments are deriving their just powers deriving their just powers
instituted among Men, from the consent of the from the consent of the
deriving their just Powers governed; that whenever any governed. —That whenever
from the Consent of the form of government becomes any Form of Government
governed; that whenever, any destructive of these ends, it is becomes destructive of these

2. form of Government shall the right of the people to alter ends, it is the right of the
become destructive of these or to abolish it, and to People to alter or to abolish
ends, it is the Right of the institute new government, it, and to institute new
People to alter, or to abolish laying its foundation on such Government, laying its
it, and to institute new principles and organizing its foundation on such
Government, laying its powers in such form, as to principles, and organizing its
Foundation on such them shall seem most likely powers in such form, as to
Principles, and organizing its to effect their happiness. them shall seem most likely
power in such Form, as to Prudence indeed will dictate to effect their Safety and
them shall Seem most likely that governments long Happiness. Prudence, indeed,
to effect their Safety and established should not be will dictate that Governments
Happiness. Prudence indeed changed for light and long established should not
will dictate that Governments transient causes: and be changed for light and
long established should not accordingly all experience transient causes; and
be changed for light and hath shown that mankind are accordingly all experience
transient Causes; and more disposed to suffer while hath shown, that mankind are
accordingly all Experience evils are sufferable, than to more disposed to suffer,
hath shown, that Mankind are right themselves by while evils are sufferable,
more disposed to Suffer, abolishing the forms to which than to right themselves by
while Evils are Sufferable, they are accustomed. But abolishing the forms to which
than to right themselves, by when a long train of abuses they are accustomed. But
abolishing the Forms to and usurpations begun at a when a long train of abuses
which they are accustomed. distinguished period and and usurpations pursuing
But when a long Train of pursuing invariably the same invariably the same Object,
Abuses and Usurpations, object, evinces a design to evinces a design to reduce
begun at a distinguish'd reduce them under absolute them under absolute
Period, and pursuing despotism, it is their right, it Despotism, it is their right, it
invariably, the same object, is their duty, to throw off is their duty, to throw off
evinces a Design to reduce such government and to such Government, and to
them under absolute Power, it provide new guards for their provide new Guards for their
is their Right, it is their Duty, future security. Such has been future security. Such has been
to throw off such the patient sufferance of these the patient sufferance of these
Government, and to provide colonies, and such is now the Colonies; and such is now the
new Guards for their future necessity which constrains necessity which constrains
Security. Such has been the them to expunge their former them to alter their former
patient Sufferance of these systems of government. The Systems of Government. The
Colonies; and such is now the history of the present king of history of the present King of
Necessity, which constrains Great Britain is a history of Great Britain is a history of
them to expunge their former unremitting injuries and repeated injuries and
Systems of Government. The usurpations, among which usurpations, all having in
History of his present appears no solitary fact to direct object the
Majesty, is a History of contradict the uniform tenor establishment of an absolute
unremitting Injuries and of the rest; but all having in Tyranny over these States. To
Usurpations, among which no direct object the prove this let Facts be

3. one Fact stands Single or establishment of an absolute submitted to a candid world.
Solitary to contradict the tyranny over these states. To
uniform Tenor of the rest, all prove this let facts be
of which have in direct submitted to a candid world,
object, the Establishment of for the truth of which we
an absolute Tyranny over pledge a faith yet unsullied
these States. To prove this, let by falsehood.
Facts be Submitted to a
candid World, for the Truth
of which We pledge a Faith,
as yet unsullied by falsehood.
He has refused his Assent to He has refused his assent to He has refused his Assent to
Laws, the most wholesome laws the most wholesome and Laws, the most wholesome
and necessary for the public necessary for the public and necessary for the public
good. good: good.
He has forbidden his He has forbidden his He has forbidden his
Governors to pass Laws of governors to pass laws of Governors to pass Laws of
immediate and pressing immediate and pressing immediate and pressing
Importance, unless suspended importance, unless suspended importance, unless suspended
in their operation, till his in their operation till his in their operation till his
Assent should be obtained; assent should be obtained, Assent should be obtained;
and when so suspended he and when so suspended, he and, when so suspended, he
has neglected utterly to attend has utterly neglected to attend has utterly neglected to attend
to them. to them. to them.
He has refused to pass other He has refused to pass other He has refused to pass other
Laws for the accommodation laws for the accommodation Laws for the accommodation
of large Districts of People, of large districts of people of large districts of people,
unless those People would unless those people would unless those people would
relinquish the Right of relinquish the right of relinquish the right of
Representation in the representation, in the Representation in the
Legislature, a Right legislature, a right Legislature, a right
inestimable to them, and inestimable to them, and inestimable to them, and
formidable to Tyrants only. formidable to tyrants only. formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together He has called together
legislative bodies at places legislative bodies at places

4. unusual, uncomfortable and unusual, uncomfortable, and
distant from the depository of distant from the depository of
their public records, for the their public Records, for the
sole purpose of fatiguing sole purpose of fatiguing
them into compliance with them into compliance with
his measures. his measures.
He has dissolved He has dissolved He has dissolved
Representative Houses, Representative houses Representative Houses
repeatedly, and continually, repeatedly and continually for repeatedly for opposing with
for opposing with manly opposing with manly manly firmness his invasions
Firmness his Invasions on the firmness his invasions on the on the rights of the people.
Rights of the People. right of the people:
He has refused, for a long He has refused for a long He has refused for a long
Space of Time after such time after such dissolutions to time after such dissolutions to
Dissolutions, to cause others cause others to be elected cause others to be elected,
to be elected, whereby the whereby the legislative whereby the Legislative
legislative Powers, incapable powers incapable of powers, incapable of
of annihilation, have returned annihilation, have returned to Annihilation have returned to
to the People at large for their the people at large for their the People at large for their
Exercise, the state remaining exercise, the state remaining exercise, the State remaining,
in the mean Time, exposed to in the mean time exposed to in the meantime, exposed to
all the Dangers of Invasion, all the dangers of invasion all the dangers of invasion
from without, and from without and convulsions from without, and
Convulsions within— within: convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to He has endeavored to prevent He has endeavoured to
prevent the Population of the population of these states, prevent the population of
these States; for that purpose for that purpose obstructing these States; for that purpose
obstructing the Laws for the laws for naturalization of obstructing the Laws for
naturalization of foreigners; foreigners; refusing to pass Naturalization of Foreigners;
refusing to pass others to others to encourage their refusing to pass others to
encourage their Migrations migrations hither; and raising encourage their migrations
hither; and raising the the conditions of new hither, and raising the
Conditions of new appropriations of lands: conditions of new
Appropriations of Lands. Appropriations of Lands.
He has suffered the He has suffered the He has obstructed the

5. Administration of Justice administration of justice Administration of Justice by
totally to cease in some of totally to cease in some of refusing his Assent to Laws
these Colonies, refusing his these states, refusing his for establishing Judiciary
Assent to Laws for assent to laws for establishing powers.
establishing Judiciary judiciary powers:
Powers.
He has made our Judges He has made judges He has made Judges
dependent on his Will alone, dependant on his will alone, dependent on his Will alone,
for the Tenure of their for the tenure of their offices for the tenure of their offices,
offices, and amount of their and the amount and payment and the amount and payment
Salaries: of their salaries: of their salaries.
He has created a Multitude of He has erected a multitude of He has erected a multitude of
new offices by a Self- new offices by a self assumed New Offices, and sent hither
assumed Power, and sent power and sent hither swarms swarms of Officers to harass
hither swarms of officers to of officers to harass our our people, and eat out their
harass our People and eat out people and eat out their substance.
their Substance. substance:
He has kept among us, in He has kept among us in He has kept among us, in
Times of Peace, Standing times of peace, standing times of peace, Standing
Armies and Ships of War. armies and ships of war Armies without the Consent
without the consent of our of our legislatures.
legislatures:
He has affected to render the He has affected to render the He has affected to render the
military, independent of, and military, independent of and Military independent of and
Superiour to, the civil Power. superior to the civil power: superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others He has combined with others He has combined with others
to subject us to a Jurisdiction to subject us to a jurisdiction to subject us to a jurisdiction
foreign to our Constitution foreign to our constitutions foreign to our constitution,
and unacknowledged by our and unacknowledged by our and unacknowledged by our
Laws; giving his Assent to laws, giving his assent to laws; giving his Assent to
their pretended Acts of their acts of pretended their Acts of pretended
Legislation; for quartering legislation, for quartering Legislation:
large Bodies of armed Troops large bodies of armed troops

6. among us; for protecting among us; for protecting
them by a Mock Tryal from them by a mock trial from For quartering large bodies of
Punishment for any Murders punishment for any murders armed troops among us:
they should commit on the which they should commit on
Inhabitants of these States; the inhabitants of these states; For protecting them, by a
for cutting off our Trade with for cutting off our trade with mock Trial from punishment
all Parts of the World; for all parts of the world; for for any Murders which they
imposing Taxes on as without imposing taxes on us without should commit on the
our Consent; for depriving Us our consent; for depriving us Inhabitants of these States:
of the Benefits of Trial by in many cases of the benefits
Jury; for transporting us of trial by jury; for For cutting off our trade with
beyond Seas to be tried for transporting us beyond seas all parts of the world:
pretended offenses; for taking to be tried for pretended
away our Charters, and offences; for abolishing the For imposing Taxes on us
altering fundamentally the free system of English laws without our Consent —For
Forms of our Government; in a neighboring province, depriving us in many cases of
for suspending our own establishing therein an the benefits of Trial by jury:
Legislatures and declaring arbitrary government and
themselves invested with enlarging its boundaries so as For transporting us beyond
Power to legislate for us in all to render it at once an Seas to be tried for pretended
Cases whatsoever. example and fit instrument offences:
for introducing the same
absolute rule into these For abolishing the free
colonies; for taking away our System of English Laws in a
charters, abolishing our most neighbouring Province,
valuable laws, and establishing therein an
fundamentally the forms of Arbitrary government, and
our governments, for enlarging its Boundaries so as
suspending our own to render it at once an
legislatures and declaring example and fit instrument
themselves invested with for introducing the same
power to legislate for us in all absolute rule into these
cases whatsoever: 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
tbemselves invested with
power to legislate for us in all

7. cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated He has abdicated government He has abdicated
Government here, here, withdrawing his Government here by
withdrawing his Governors, governors, and declaring us declaring us out of his
and declaring us, out of his out of his allegiance and Protection, and waging war
Allegiance and Protection. protection. against us.
He has plundered our Seas, He has plundered our seas, He has plundered our seas,
ravaged our Coasts, burnt our ravaged our coasts, burnt our ravaged our Coasts, burnt our
towns, and destroyed the towns and destroyed the lives towns, and destroyed the
Lives of our People. of our people: Lives of our people.
He is at this Time He is at this time transporting He is at this time transporting
transporting large Armies of large armies of foreign large Armies of foreign
foreign Mercenaries to mercenaries to complete the Mercenaries to compleat the
complete the Works of death, works of death, desolation works of death, desolation,
Desolation, and Tyranny, and tyranny already begun and tyranny, already begun
already begun with with circumstances of cruelty with circumstances of cruelty
Circumstances of Cruelty and and perfidy unworthy the and perfidy scarcely
Perfidy unworthy the Head of head of a civilized nation: paralleled in the most
a civilized Nation. barbarous ages, and totally
unworthy the Head of a
civilized nation.
He has endeavoured to bring He has endeavored to bring He has excited domestic
on the Inhabitants of our on the inhabitants of our insurrection among us, and
Frontiers, the merciless frontiers the merciless Indian has endeavoured to bring on
Indian Savages, whose savages, whose known rule of the inhabitants of our
known Rule of Warfare is an warfare is an undistinguished frontiers, the merciless Indian
undistinguished Destruction destruction of all ages, sexes, Savages, whose known rule
of all Ages, Sexes, and and conditions of existence. of warfare, is an
Conditions of existence. undistinguished destruction
of all ages, sexes and
He has incited treasonable
conditions.
He has incited treasonable insurrections of our fellow-
Insurrections of our Fellow citizens, with the allurements
Citizens, with the allurement of forfeiture and confiscation
of Forfeiture and of our property:
Confiscation of our Property.

8. He has constrained others, He has constrained our fellow
taken captive on the high seas citizens taken Captive on the
to bear arms against their high Seas, to bear arms
country, to become the against their Country, to
executioners of their friends become the executioners of
and brethren, or to fall their friends and Brethren, or
themselves by their hands: to fall themselves by their
Hands.
He has waged cruel War He has waged cruel war
against human Nature itself, against human nature itself,
violating its most sacred violating its most sacred
Rights of Life and Liberty in rights of life and liberty in the
the Persons of a distant persons of distant people,
People who never offended who never offended him,
him, captivating and carrying captivating and carrying them
them into Slavery in another into slavery in another
Hemisphere, or to incur hemisphere, or to incur
miserable Death, in their miserable death in their
Transportation thither. This transportation thither. This
piratical Warfare, the piratical warfare, the
opprobrium of infidel opprobrium of infidel
Powers, is the Warfare of the powers, is the warfare of the
Christian King of Great Christian king of Great
Britain. Britain. Determined to keep
open a market where Men
should be bought and sold, he
He has prostituted his
has prostituted his negative
Negative for Suppressing
for suppressing every
every legislative Attempt to
legislative attempt to prohibit
prohibit or to restrain an
or to restrain this execrable
execrable Commerce,
commerce: and that this
determined to keep open a
assemblage of horrors might
Market where Men should be
want no fact of distinguished
bought and sold, and that this
dye, he is now exciting those
assemblage of Horrors might
very people to rise in arms
want no Fact of distinguished
among us, and to purchase
Die.
that liberty of which he has
deprived them by murdering
He is now exciting those very
the people upon whom he
People to rise in Arms among
also obtruded them; thus
us, and to purchase their
paying off former crime
Liberty of which he has
committed against the
deprived them, by murdering

9. the People upon whom he liberties of one people, with
also obtruded them: thus crimes which he urges them
paying off, former Crimes to commit against the lives of
committed against the another.
Liberties of one People, with
Crimes which he urges them
to commit against the Lives
of another.
In every stage of these In every stage of these In every stage of these
oppressions we have oppressions we have Oppressions We have
petitioned for redress, in the petitioned for redress in the Petitioned for Redress in the
most humble Terms; our most humble terms; our most humble terms: Our
repeated Petitions have been repeated petitions have been repeated Petitions have been
answered by repeated Injury. answered only by repeated answered only by repeated
A Prince, whose Character is injuries. A prince whose injuries.
thus marked by every Act character is thus marked by
which may define a Tyrant, is every act which may define a A Prince whose character is
unfit to be the Ruler of a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler thus marked by every act
People who mean to be free. of a people who mean to be which may define a Tyrant, is
— future ages will scarce free. Future ages will scarce unfit to be the ruler of a free
believe, that the Hardiness of believe that the hardiness of people.
one Man, adventured, within one man adventured within
the Short Compass of twelve the short compass of twelve
years only, on so many Acts years only, to build a
of Tyranny, without a Mask, foundation, so broad and
over a People, fostered and undisguised for tyranny over
fixed in the Principles of a people fostered and fixed in
Liberty. principles of freedom.
Nor have we been wanting in Nor have we been wanting in Nor have We been wanting in
Attentions to our British attentions to our British attentions to our British
Brethren. We have warned brethren. We have warned brethren. We have warned
them from Time to Time of them from time to time of them from time to time of
attempts of their Legislature attempts by their legislature attempts by their legislature
to extend a Jurisdiction over to extend an unwarrantable to extend an unwarrantable
these our States. We have jurisdiction over these our jurisdiction over us. We have
reminded them of the states. We have reminded reminded them of the
Circumstances of our them of the circumstances of circumstances of our
Emigration and Settlement our emigration and settlement emigration and settlement
here, no one of which could here, no one of which could here. We have appealed to
warrant so strange a warrant so strange a their native justice and

10. Pretension. That these were pretension: that these were magnanimity and we have
effected at the expense of our effected at the expence of our conjured them by the ties of
own Blood and Treasure, own blood and treasure, our common kindred to
unassisted by the Wealth or unassisted by the wealth or disavow these usurpations
the Strength of Great Britain; strength of Great Britain: that which would inevitably
that in constituting indeed, in constituting indeed our interrupt our connection and
our Several Forms of several forms of government, correspondence. They too
Government, we had adopted we had adopted a common have been deaf to the voice of
one common King, thereby king, thereby laying a justice and of consanguinity.
laying a Foundation for foundation for perpetual We must therefore acquiesce
Perpetual League and Amity league and amity with them: in the necessity which
with them; but that but that submission to their denounces our separation and
Submission to their parliament was no part of our hold them, as we hold the rest
Parliament, was no Part of constitution nor ever in idea, of mankind, Enemies in War,
our Constitution, nor ever in if history be credited; and we in Peace Friends.
Idea, if History may be have appealed to their native
credited; and we appealed to justice and magnanimity, as
their Nature, Justice and well as to the ties of our
Magnanimity, as well as to common kindred, to disavow
the Ties of our common these usurpations which were
Kindred to disavow these likely to interrupt our
usurpations, which were connection and
likely to interrupt our correspondence. They too
Correspondence and have been deaf to the voice of
Connection. They too have justice and of consanguinity,
been deaf to the Voice of and when occasions have
Justice and of Consanguinity, been given them, by the
and when occasions have regular course of their laws of
been given them by the removing from their councils
regular Course of their Laws the disturbers of our
of removing from their harmony, they have by their
Councils, the Disturbers of free elections re-established
our Harmony, they have by them in power. At this very
their free Election, re- time they are permitting their
established them in Power. At chief magistrate to send over
this very Time too, they are not only soldiers of our own
permitting their Chief blood, but Scotch and other
Magistrate to send over not foreign mercenaries, to
only soldiers of our common invade and destroy us. These
Blood, but Scotch and foreign facts have given the last stab
Mercenaries, to invade and to agonizing affections, and
deluge us in Blood. These manly spirit bids us to
Facts have given the last Stab renounce forever these
to agonizing affection, and unfeeling brethren. We must

11. manly Spirit bids us to endeavor to forget our former
renounce forever these love for them, to hold them as
unfeeling Brethren. We must we hold the rest of mankind
endeavour to forget our enemies in war, in peace
former Love for them, and to friends.
hold them, as we hold the rest
of Mankind, enemies in War, We might have been a free
in Peace Friends. We might and a great people together;
have been a free and a great but a communication of
People together but a grandeur and of freedom it
Communication of Grandeur seems, is below their dignity.
and of Freedom it seems is Be it so, since they will have
below their Dignity. Be it so, it: the road to happiness and
since they will have it: The to glory is open to us too; we
Road to Happiness and to will climb it apart from them,
Glory is open to us too; we and acquiesce in the necessity
will climb it, apart from which denounces our eternal
them, and acquiesce in the separation!
Necessity which denounces
our eternal Separation.
We therefore the We therefore the We, therefore, the
Representatives of the United representatives of the United Representatives of the United
States of America in General States in General Congress States of America, in General
Congress assembled, do, in assembled in the name and by Congress Assembled,
the Name, and by the authority of the good people appealing to the Supreme
Authority of the good People of these states, reject and Judge of the world for the
of these States, reject and renounce all allegiance and rectitude of our intentions,
renounce all Allegiance and subjection to the kings of do, in the Name, and by
Subjection to the Kings of Great Britain and all others Authority of the good People
Great Britain, and all others, who may hereafter claim by, of these Colonies, solemnly
who may hereafter claim by, through, or under them; we publish and declare, that
through, or under them; We utterly dissolve all political these United Colonies are,
utterly dissolve and break off, connection which may and of Right ought to be Free
all political Connection heretofore have subsisted and Independent States; that
which may have heretofore between us and the people or they are Absolved from all
subsisted between us and the parliament of Great Britain, allegiance to the British
People or Parliament of Great and finally we do assert and Crown, and that all political
Britain, and finally we do declare these colonies to be connection between them and
assert and declare these free and independant, and the State of Great Britain, is
Colonies to be free and that as free and independant and ought to be totally
independent States, and that states, they have full power to dissolved; and that as Free
as free and independent levy war, conclude peace, and Independent states, they

12. States they shall hereafter contract alliances, establish have full Power to levy War,
have Power to levy War, commerce, and to do all other conclude Peace, contract
conclude Peace, contract acts and things which Alliances, establish
Alliances, establish independent states may of Commerce, and to do all
Commerce, and to do all right do. And for the support other Acts and Things which
other Acts and Things which of this declaration we Independent States may of
independent States may of mutually pledge to each other right do. — And for the
Right do. And for the Support our lives, our fortunes, and support of this Declaration,
of this Declaration, we our sacred honour. with a firm reliance on the
mutually pledge to each other protection of divine
our Lives, our Fortunes, and Providence, we mutually
our Sacred Honour. pledge to each other our
Lives, our Fortunes, and our
sacred Honor.