Is there something in the Declaration of Independance that says something like,"If there's something wrong,

Question

those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action"? That is a quote by the character Ben Gates, in the movie, "National Treasure", and I think he was saying that it was from the declaration of independace, but I can't find it in the document. Does anyone know where it is? Thank you!

Declaration of Independance
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

If a quote that has the same meaning is in another important document, like the costitution, I am interested in that, too.

Answer 1

The line is "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 provide new Guards for their future security."

It comes at the end of the Preamble to the Declaration and right before the list of charges against King George III.

Answer 2

"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."

***The government only exists because the people want it to secure their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. All government power comes from the people and their consent to be governed. If the government works against life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it is a civic duty or obligation to make a new government.


"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."

***Here he's saying that the people will put up with a lot of abuse before its simply too much to handle any more. Governments make mistakes and once in a while you get a bad leader...

But if there is a PATTERN of established abuses and power grabs that lasts an extended period of time, probably generations, then there's something institutionally wrong that needs to be addressed - and often the best way to do that is to start over.

Answer 3

Notice in Freedom's First's posting of the pre-amble to the D of I, that part that says,

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,..."

The U.S. government is supposed to protect the rights of man, not corporations and other legal collective entities. If a corporation is poisoning your water and air, it is the job of the U.S. government to protect the rights of individuals to have clean air and water.

The repub concept is that corporations have the right to do whatever they want to the individual. The Declaration of Independence is considered to be a part of the constitution in identifying the purpose of government. Repubs claim that only government can violate your rights, which makes this whole statement in the D of I meaningless.

Answer 4

Hate to break it to you, but the Declaration of Independence has little to do with what goes on in the US today. The constitution is the more important document.

Answer 5

Yes. What that means is if the government is ****** up it's our job as American citizens to take back power from the dictator,king whatever of whoever's in charge.

Answer 6

not sure about that one.