TheDeclarationofIndependence
托马斯·杰斐逊 / ThomasJefferson
托马斯·杰斐逊(1743—1826),生于美国弗吉尼亚州,1762年毕业于威廉与玛丽学院,1767年取得律师资格。杰斐逊于1769年进入殖民地议会,成为反英运动领袖之一。1774年发表的小册子《英属北美权利概要》为杰斐逊的重要作品,文中指出英国国会无权为殖民地制定法律。1775年他随弗吉尼亚代表团出席在费城举行的第二次大陆会议,1776年因起草《独立宣言》而名垂史册。《独立宣言》超越了一时一地的历史特殊意义,成为人类追求自身价值的伟大文献。
AceintheHole
Understandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle.
.(指权利等)不能让与的,不能剥夺的
.服从,听从,顺从
.雇用的,为钱的,唯利是图的
.血亲;同族;密切关系
WhenintheCourseofhumanevents, itbecomesnecessaryforonepeopletodissolvethepoliticalbandswhichhaveconnectedthemwithanother, andtoassumeamongthepowersoftheearth, theseparateandequalstationtowhichtheLawsofNatureandofNature’sGodentitlethem, adecentrespecttotheopinionsofmankindrequiresthattheyshoulddeclarethecauseswhichimpelthemtotheseparation.
Weholdthesetruthstobeself-evident, thatallmenarecreatedequal, thattheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertainunalienableRights, thatamongtheseareLife, , GovernmentsareinstitutedamongMen, , itistheRightofthePeopletoalterortoabolishit, andtoinstitutenewGovernment, layingitsfoundationonsuchprinciplesandorganizingitspowersinsuchform, astothemshallseemmostlikelytoeffecttheirSafetyandHappiness.
Prudence, indeed, willdictatethatGovernmentslongestablishedshouldnotbechangedforlightandtransientcauses; andaccordinglyallexperiencehathshewn, thatmankindaremoredisposedtosuffer, whileevilsaresufferable, thantorightthemselvesbyabolishingtheformstowhichtheyareaccustomed.