The Declaration of Independence is the most important in the history of the United States. It can be broken down into and summarized into three parts, democratic principles, grievances of the king, and the conclusion.
The Declaration opens up with an introduction that has many democratic principles that the United States government is based off of. It then says that governments are instituted by men and that they derive their powers from the governed, and if the government violates the people’s rights it is their duty to overthrow the government. It says that it is the right and duty to alter the old system of government if the government does not alter it themselves.
After this the Thomas Jefferson lists many grievances of King George III. Some of them include his refusal to assent his laws which is necessary for the public good. He also forbade the governors of the colonies from passing laws that had great importance. Also, the King repeatedly dissolved representative houses for opposition of his invading the rights of the people. Jefferson also faults the King with cutting off their trade from the rest of the world, imposing taxes without consent, and depriving people of trial by jury.
The final part of the Declaration of Independence is the conclusion. This states that the colonists tried to petition the King peacefully, but every time they were denied. They warned Parliament and the King not to continue the tyranny or they will be considered enemies. And so the colonies declare themselves free and independent from Britain and they maintain the right to levy war, make peace and treaties.
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