We are one year from the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The Declaration’s approval on July 4, 1776, changed this nation and the world proclaiming the “self-evident” truths that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights”—alongside the explanation that “to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Requiring consent, majority rule, and equality before the law ensured that people no longer were subject to supposedly divinely chosen kings. Instead, they were citizens in a representative democracy, free to debate the merits of leaders and choose them through elections.

The Declaration is inarguably the most important document in American history, laying out the principles by which our nation lives and is held together. Abraham Lincoln said the Declaration “... gave liberty, not only to the people of this country, but, I hope, to the world, for all future time.”

Yet many Americans have seemingly lost sight of the treasure left by the 56 delegates who met in Philadelphia. So, a year before the 250th anniversary, in the summer of 2025 when many Americans have concerns about the future of our democracy, we can again take a few moments to consider how important the U.S. founding was to world history – and to our responsibility to live up to the Declaration’s ideals.

We hope presenting the original language of the Declaration of Independence along with a modern translation (italicized) might help a new generation grasp the majestic sweep and world-changing intentions of the authors:

“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another …”

Whenever a group of people needs to separate itself from its government …

“… 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 …”

… and assert its universal and God-given independence and equality …

“… a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

It’s important to clearly state the reasons why.

“… We hold these truths to be self-evident …”

We think it’s obvious …

“… that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights …”

… that God created every person equal, and He gave each person specific, unchanging rights that should never be trampled upon …

“… that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness …”

… these include the right of the people to live life in freedom without undue harm, and pursue their dreams and goals.

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed …”

The very reason we have man-made governments is to protect these rights, not to interfere with them. Furthermore, whatever power and authority governments have are given by the people’s permission and limited to their protection.

“…that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it …”

When any government starts to undermine the very purpose of protecting the life, freedoms and happiness of the people, then they have the right to change the government.

“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.”

The people have the right to set up a new and better government based and organized upon tried and true principles that protect, rather than threaten, their safety and happiness.

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes”;

It’s not wise to change a long-standing government for some trivial or fleeting reason or for the latest political cause;

“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.”

And, in fact, history shows that people are more likely to put up with unbearable evil than they are to correct the problem.

“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.”

But when a government becomes tyrannical and abusive with consistent, repeated violations of the people’s rights, with the intent to make them slaves of the state, then the people have the right – in fact, the duty – to revolt and put new safeguards in place to protect their future rights.