ON OF THE AMERICAN SYSTEM

"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."

* * * * *

"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 the 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."

The Continental Congress. Declaration of Independence of
July 4, 1776.

THE ADOPTION OF THE AMERICAN SYSTEM BY THE AMERICAN
UNION IN ITS CONSTITUTION, AS APPLYING TO ITS