The Declaration of Independence – Vocabulary & Context

impel

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

unalienable

“…they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights…”

prudence

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

transient

“…should not be changed for light and transient causes…”

usurpation

“But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object…”

evince

“…evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism…”

despotism

“…a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government…”

relinquish

“…unless these people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature…”

abdicate

“He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection, and waging war against us.”

perfidy

“…circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages…”

redress

“In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress, in the most humble terms…”

acquiesce

“We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation…”