The Declaration of Independence - Abridgment Series

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There were two civil wars for the United States of America. The second one, known simply as, “The Civil War,” regarded freedom from physical bondage and physical slavery.

But it is the first “civil war,” known as “The Revolution,” that was for freedom from intellectual bondage and spiritual slavery with self-governance by consent. To end the mean imposition, by government—or the society from which it might be derived—onto the conscience of an otherwise good citizen. As Patrick Henry cried to the Virginia Assembly, on March 23, 1775, “The question before the house is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery…”

The purpose of any document is essential to an understanding of its content.

The Declaration of Independence was a literary device of exclamation and persuasive rhetoric. This is a distinct purpose from the United States Constitution, the purpose of which was to organize a governmental framework to allow mature adults of diverse opinions and beliefs to unify in one society.

As such, it is appropriate that the U.S. Constitution has no reference to “god” within the framework of its purpose. But, compare the Declaration, a device not of a governance framework, but one of exclamation and persuasion; indeed, to King George III, whose authority was presumed by some (certainly by King George) to be divine. Even so, in the Declaration, we observe the references to “god” are obliquely abstract; perhaps theist at times, but certainly not denominational, to wit, we see references as: “Laws of Nature,” “Creator,” “Nature’s God, “Supreme Judge of the world,” and “divine Providence.”

Note, also, that the Declaration of Independence speaks of the Creator’s guarantees of “Life,” “Liberty” and “pursuit of Happiness,” but the U. S. Constitution speaks of the governmental protections of “Life,” “Liberty” and “Property.”

Now, in the Declaration, the following sentence is well-known and often quoted:

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.

But, it seems to me that a deepened cognizance and contemplation of the following clause is as essential as anything in the entire document, because it encapsulates that the Forefather were “all in,” risking everything as the cause for our perpetual prosperity. Risking everything essential in the World, being Life, Money and Property, and risking everything essential in the Man, being “sacred” Honor.

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.

The following is an abridged version of the Declaration, certainly less perfect than the original, but perhaps more accessible.

Gregg Zegarelli, Esq.

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 becomes 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 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.

To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

…

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 attentions to our Brittish 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 settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.

We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

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.

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776

/s/56 Signatories, for 13 Colonies/

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The Declaration of Independence – Abridgment Series