每年7月4日是美國的獨立日，1776年7月4日，大陸會議在費城正式通過托馬斯杰斐遜起草的《獨立宣言》。以下為美國獨立宣言的全文內容。

The Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERAICA

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 Nature and 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.

在人類事務發(fā)展的過程中，當一個民族必須解除同另一個民族的聯(lián)系，并按照自然法則和上帝的旨意，以獨立平等的身份立于世界列國之林時，出于對人類輿論的尊重，必須把驅使他們獨立的原因予以宣布。

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 they are among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among them, deriving their just power 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. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than t right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 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. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity, which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is usurpations, all having in direct object tyranny over these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

我們認為下述真理是不言而喻的：人人生而平等，造物主賦予他們若干不可讓與的權利，其中包括生存權、自由權和追求幸福的權利。為了保障這些權利，人們才在他們中間建立政府，而政府的正當權利，則是經(jīng)被統(tǒng)治者同意授予的。任何形式的政府一旦對這些目標的實現(xiàn)起破壞作用時，人民便有權予以更換或廢除，以建立一個新的政府。新政府所依據(jù)的原則和組織其權利的方式，務使人民認為唯有這樣才更有可能使他們獲得安全和幸福。若真要審慎的來說，成立多年的政府是不應當由于無關緊要的和一時的原因而予以更換的。過去的一切經(jīng)驗都說明，任何苦難，只要尚能忍受，人類還是情愿忍受，也不想為申冤而廢除他們久已習慣了的政府形式。然而，當始終追求同一目標的一系列濫用職權和強取豪奪的行為表明政府企圖把人民至于專制暴政之下時，人民就有權也有義務去推翻這樣的政府，并為其未來的安全提供新的保障。這就是這些殖民地過去忍受苦難的經(jīng)過，也是他們現(xiàn)在不得不改變政府制度的原因。當今大不列顛王國的歷史，就是屢屢傷害和掠奪這些殖民地的歷史，其直接目標就是要在各州之上建立一個獨裁暴政。為了證明上述句句屬實，現(xiàn)將事實公諸于世，讓公正的世人作出評判。

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

他拒絕批準對公眾利益更有益、更必需的法律。

He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend them.

他禁止他的殖民總督批準刻不容緩、極端重要的法律，要不就先行擱置這些法律直至征得他的同意，而這些法律被擱置以后，他又完全置之不理。

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

他拒絕批準便利大地區(qū)人民的其他的法律，除非這些地區(qū)的人民情愿放棄自己在自己在立法機構中的代表權；而代表權對人民是無比珍貴的，只有暴君才畏懼它。

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

他把各州的立法委員召集到一個異乎尋常、極不舒適而有遠離他們的檔案庫的地方去開會，其目的無非是使他們疲憊不堪，被迫就范。

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasion on the rights of the people.

他一再解散各州的眾議院，因為后者堅決反對他侵犯人民的權利。

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolution, to cause others to be elected ; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without and convulsion within.

他在解散眾議院之后，又長期拒絕另選他人，于是這項不可剝奪的立法權便歸由普通人民來行使，致使在這其間各州仍處于外敵入侵和內部騷亂的種種危險之中。