The Declaration of Independence
托馬斯·傑斐遜 / Thomas Jefferson
托馬斯·傑斐遜（1743—1826），生於美國弗吉尼亞州，1762年畢業於威廉與瑪麗學院，1767年取得律師資格。傑斐遜於1769年進入殖民地議會，成為反英運動領袖之一。1774年發表的小冊子《英屬北美權利概要》為傑斐遜的重要作品，文中指出英國國會無權為殖民地製定法律。1775年他隨弗吉尼亞代表團出席在費城舉行的第二次大陸會議，1776年因起草《獨立宣言》而名垂史冊。《獨立宣言》超越了一時一地的曆史特殊意義，成為人類追求自身價值的偉大文獻。
Ace in the Hole
Understand these new words before you read this article.
1. unalienable adj. (指權利等)不能讓與的，不能剝奪的
2. compliance n. 服從，聽從，順從
3. mercenary adj. 雇用的，為錢的，唯利是圖的
4. consanguinity n. 血親；同族；密切關係
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.