The Declaration of Independence
托马斯·杰斐逊 / Thomas Jefferson
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。
Ace in the Hole
Understand these new words before you read this article.
1. unalienable adj. (指权利等)不能让与的，不能剥夺的
2. compliance n. 服从，听从，顺从
3. mercenary adj. 雇用的，为钱的，唯利是图的
4. consanguinity n. 血亲；同族；密切关系
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.