What can be learned from the Declaration of Independence?

Answer 1

"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 nature of 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 inalienable 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 foundations on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments longs established should not be changed for light and transient causes, 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. 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..."

The above quotation is the beginning of the Declaration of Independence. After reading that what have we learned? We can learn that the right to revolt against the "long train of abuses and usurpations..." that have deigned to "reduce" us "under absolute Despotism", is a "law of nature" and the "nature of God" who "entitles" us with the absolute right to "abolish" the ties with that tyrannical Government. We can learn that certain truths have been held to be self evident, amongst those the Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness are inalienable and can not be taken away from us as the people or as individuals. There is much more that can be learned from this simple document, but the lessons listed here are by far the most important lessons.