DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE VOCAB MR HECK AP LANG

impel

force

endowed

provided

usurpations

wrongful seizures of power or property by force

evinces

is evidence of; indicates

despotism

the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way

tyranny

oppressive power exerted by a government or ruler

candid

fair, open-minded

relinquish

release, yield

inestimable

priceless

formidable

causing dread

annihilation

destruction

convulsions

violent disturbances

naturalization of foreigners

the process by which foreign-born people become citizens

appropriations of land

setting land aside for settlement

tenure

the holding of an office or position

quartering

lodging, housing

arbitrary

unrestrained use of authority; based on random choice rather than any reason

render

make

abdicate

to give up or renounce

foreign mercenaries

soliders hired to fight for a country not their own

perfidy

violation of trust

insurrections

rebellions

petitioned for redress

asked formally for a correction of wrongs

unwarrantable jurisdiction

unjustified authority

magnanimity

generous spirit

conjured

urgently called upon

consanguinity

common ancestry

acquiesce

consent to, to give in

rectitude

rightness

unalienable

something that can't be taken away

absolved

to be set free from obligation; to be rid of something

prudence

good judgment; wisdom

redress

to correct; to reply; to address

transient

fleeting; not permanent

plunder

to steal; to destroy

denounce

to put down; to condemn or criticize publicly

hitherto

until now

Jurisdiction

authority; power to make legal decisions

disavow

reject; deny responsibility for