The following is a new Declaration of Independence constructed by minor alteration of the one written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776.  This was accomplished primarily by replacing references
 to ~Great Britain~ and ~King George~ with ~the government of the United States of America~. <p>
In both the original and new declarations the plaintiff is the same:  the states and their people.  In the original declaration the defendent is King George/Great Britain.  In the new declaration the defendent is the United States Government. Italicized text is direct quote of the original declaration.  Bolded non-italicized text accounts for the plaintiff and defendent references.
<p>
<ul>
<li> Political Relationships Change Based On the Laws of God <p>
<i>
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.
</i><p>
<li> We Are Created.  Our Rights Come From God <p>
<i>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 .
</i><p>
<li> Government Derives Power By Consent <p><i>
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. 
</i><p>
<li> Abolishment and Formation 
<p><i>
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. 
</i><p>
<li> The Long Train 
<p><i>
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long 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 
</i><p>
<li> The Evidence 
<p><i>
Such has been the patient sufferance of these </i><b> States and their People </b><i>; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present <i><b>United States</b></i> is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
<p>
<ul>
<li> Appropriations of Lands.
<li> It has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
<li> For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
<li> For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
<li> For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
<li> It has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, 
</ul>
</i><p>
<li> Working Within the System 
<p><i>
In every stage of these Oppressions We have </i><b>elected different representatives</b><i> in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A </i><b>government</b><i> whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
</i><p>
<li> The Declaration 
<p><i>
We, therefore, the Representatives of the </i><b>People of the independent </b><i> States of America, </i><b>by general consent </b><i>, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these </i><b>States</b><i>, solemnly publish and declare, That these </i><b>States</b><i> are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the </i><b>United States of America </b><i>, and that all political connection between them and </i><b>that government</b><i>, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
</i><p>
</ul>

