The signatures: Column 1:
The signers of the Declaration of Independence are written in American historybooks as the greatest freedom fighters ever. These men were very brave, incredibly patriotic, and extremely noble. They were fighting for truth, for justice, for the American way. In reality, the signers were very afraid of a British backlash. The King of Britain was the most powerful man in their world. What would he do to them when he found out they signed the Declaration of Independence.
The original document was reprinted, without the signatures, and distributed to the colonies and sent overseas to Britain. What King George saw was a reprint of the original that made its way to England. Even that wasn't an exact copy. Being that the signatures were missing, he could not single out any traitors within the colonies. The original Declaration of Independence currently resides in the National Archives, complete with the original signatures.
He, King George, has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in another hemispherre, or to incur miserable death in their transportation there. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of Infidel powers, is the warfare of the Christian King of Great Britain. Determined to keep open a market where men should be bought and sold, he has prostituted his veto for suppressing every legislative attempt to prohibit or restrain this execrable commerce. And that this assemblage of horrors might want no fact of distinguished caprice, he is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among us, and to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, by murdering the people on whom he has also obtruded them, thus paying off former crimes committed against the liberties of one people, with crimes which he urges them to commit against the lives of another. http://www.nas.com/~lopresti/ps3.htm
Traditional Conservatism preaches that history has made society the reservoir of human knowledge and within that reservoir, rights are evident, as tradition makes them known; no appeal to abstractions are needed. By nature, those who are fit to lead, lead, and those who are fit to serve, serve. Tradition obligates the nobles to support those socially beneath them (Noblesse Oblige). In a proper society, everyone knows their place as dictated by custom, and harmony prevails. Therefore, change should be avoided, to protect from social instability, but when inevitable, change should be gradual and focused, paying mind to the will of the people. In the eighteenth century, the American colonists were the victims of Britain's irresponsible altering, and so rebelled. As to not seem like radicals, the enemy of Traditional Conservatism, the colonists appealed to the world by authoring the Declaration of Independence. Within this, they listed the grievances against the king, and how their actions were prudent and not without proper warning. Before the conflict, the colonists enjoyed the liberties granted by charters and their circumstances of emigration. Life had developed around this, and traditions had formed. This accustomed life was shaken by British, as attempts were made to alter foundations of the colonies. Tradition is self-justified, and denying it makes life turbulent. As stated by the Declaration of Independence, minor nuisances do not necessitate change. Only when tradition is denied, should alteration proceed. Edmond Burke, the famous Traditional Conservative author, supported the American Revolution as the grievances shown proved the British to be fanatics, and those revolting to be in favor of sticking to customs. As the British tyranny grew, the colonist could no longer stand for the unjustified changes. These injuries by the king were not minor, and many appeals had been made on the part of the colonists. Fighting was the last resort, as the declaration acknowledges that humans should be more apt to patience, rather than pursue change. Fair warning was given, but fell on deaf ears, and independence was necessary. When change is called for, focus is needed as protect from needless loss tradition. To preserve the useful ties, animosity had been only displayed toward the British for the reasons of protecting habit. Within the document, the will to befriend the British after the conflict is present, as history had made them a friend. The Declaration of Independence sought not to change, but to preserve the customary life of the colonists. By publishing it, the Americans sought to appeal their cause to history and to whoever cared and might support them.
State Name Ethnic origin Religion Occupation represented John Hancock English Congregational Merchant MA Button Gwinnett English Episcopal Merchant GA Lyman Hall English Congregational Physician GA George Walton English Episcopal Mechanic-Lawyer GA William Hooper English Congregational Lawyer NC Joseph Hewes English Episcopal Merchant NC John Penn English Episcopal Lawyer NC Edward Rutledge English Episcopal Planter-Lawyer SC Thomas Heyward, Jr. English Episcopal Lawyer SC Thomas Lynch, Jr. Irish-Dutch-English Episcopal Lawyer SC Arthur Middleton English Episcopal Planter SC Samuel Chase English Episcopal Lawyer MD William Paca Italian-English Episcopal Lawyer MD Thomas Stone English Episcopal Lawyer MD Charles Carroll of Carrollton Irish Roman Catholic Planter MD George Whyte English Episcopal Lawyer VA Richard Henry Lee English Episcopal Planter VA Thomas Jefferson English Episcopal Planter-Lawyer VA Benjamin Harrison English Episcopal Planter VA Thomas Nelson, Jr. Scottish-English Episcopal Merchant-Planter VA Francis Lightfoot Lee English Episcopal Planter VA Carter Braxton English Episcopal Planter VA Robert Morris English Episcopal Merchant PA Benjamin Rush English Epis., Presb. Physician PA Benjamin Franklin English Deist Printer PA John Morton Swedish-English Episcopal Farmer PA George Clymer English Episcopal Merchant PA James Smith Scotch-Irish Epis., Presb. Lawyer PA George Taylor Scotch-Irish Episcopal Ironmaster PA James Wilson Scottish Presbyterian Lawyer PA George Ross Scottish Episcopal Lawyer PA Caesar Rodney English Episcopal Planter DE George Read Irish-Welsh Episcopal Lawyer DE Thomas McKean Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Lawyer DE William Floyd Welsh-English Presbyterian Landowner NY Philip Livingston Dutch-Scottish Presbyterian Merchant NY Francis Lewis Welsh Episcopal Merchant NY Lewis Morris English-Dutch Episcopal Landowner NY Richard Stockton English Presbyterian Lawyer NJ John Witherspoon Scottish Presbyterian Clergyman NJ Francis Hopkinson English Episcopal Lawyer-Writer NJ John Hart English Baptist Farmer NJ Abraham Clark English Presbyterian Surveyor NJ Josiah Bartlett English Congregational Physician-Judge NH William Whipple English Congregational Merchant-Judge NH Matthew Thornton Scotch-Irish Congregational Physician NH Samuel Adams English Congregational Politician MA John Adams English Unitarian Lawyer MA Robert Treat Paine English Unitarian Lawyer MA Elbridge Gerry English Episcopal Merchant MA Sephen Hopkins English Quaker Surveyor-Merchant RI William Ellery English Congregational Lawyer RI Roger Sherman English Congregational Cobbler-Lawyer CT Samuel Huntington English Congregational Lawyer CT William Williams English Congregational Merchant CT Oliver Wolcott English Congregational Lawyer CT
My brother is a teacher, and he couldn't find any translation of the Declaration of Independence -- a nice document, but an awfully wordy way of saying 'go screw yourself, Majesty' -- into language that his students might understand.
I found this for him in a book that appeared to be owned by only four libraries anywhere. Fortunately, I knew some of the librarians at one of those four libraries, and they faxed me this excerpt of the book within the hour. My brother was stunned to see how quickly I could make a solution to his problems show up on the fax machine down at the school's office. I told him, "Never underestimate a librarian." That's the moral of this story.
Well, having found it, I figured it might come in handy for one or more of you guys. So here's the translation:
The Declaration of Independence (In Modern English)
Unanimously adopted at Philadelphia July 4, 1776 We ought to give reasons for this declaration.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT
All men are created equal: They have natural rights they can't give up. Life -- Liberty -- The Pursuit of Happiness. Governments are set up to secure these rights. Governments get their power from the consent of the people. When a government destroys this purpose, the PEOPLE have a right to change it and set up a new government with a better chance of giving people safety and happiness.
WE SHOULDN'T BE HASTY
Most people are more willing to suffer than change. But enough is enough! We've had it as colonies of England. King George is determined to grind us down.
LOOK AT WHAT HE HAS DONE TO US!
King George won't approve laws for the public good. He won't let his governors of the colonies pass necessary laws and he drags his feet when they are approved. He has blackmailed us by refusing to OK laws until we give up our representations. He has tried to wear down our legislators by making them meet in out of the way places. He has dissolved our legislatures when they oppose his tyranny. This has left us without defense from invasion and domestic disorder.
AND THAT'S NOT ALL!
The King tried to keep people from coming to the colonies. He won't approve laws for setting up courts. He makes judges serve at his will and for whatever he wants to pay them.
THERE'S MUCH MORE!
He has sent swarms of officers here to harass us and waste our money. He keeps armies here without our consent. He has put the Military above civil law. He has subjected us to courts against our constitution.
HIS SOLDIERS ARE GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER!
He lets them get away with murder by mock trials. He has cut off our trade with the rest of the world. He has slapped on taxes without our consent. He has often canceled trial by jury. He has hauled us off to England for pretended offenses. He has wiped out the free system of English law in Canada. Now he hopes to do the same to us. He has taken away our charters. He has destroyed our legislatures. Instead of protecting us he is fighting against us! He has ripped off our shipping. Wasted our coasts. Burned our towns. Killed our people. He has sent hired armies here to kill our people and ruin our country with such cruelty as the world has never seen.
HE EVEN MAKES US MURDER OUR OWN BROTHERS
The King has captured our citizens on the high seas. He has made them join his armies or be shot! This has made them murderers of their own brothers.
NOBODY WILL LISTEN TO US!
Every patient petition from us has led to another abuse. We've talked to Englishmen who know about this and they've turned a deaf ear.
SO WE'VE HAD ALL WE CAN TAKE!
From now on they are our enemies in war -- friends in peace.
AS GOD IS OUR JUDGE WE "declare that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, Free and Independent States."
All ties with Great Britain are ended.
"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."
SOURCE: Hersey, William D. "Your Handbook to the American Dream: the Constitution of the United States in Modern English, Including the Words of the Official Document".
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