The opening paragraph of the Declaration provides the reasons for its publication:

“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.”

“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 Declaration of Independence states that American citizens have the right to overthrow their government in certain circumstances. This right is known as the right of revolution.”

> When can citizens change the government?
> When the government is destructive
> When the government has engaged in a long series of abuses
> When the government’s goal is to establish absolute despotism

What does the Declaration of Independence say?

“The Declaration of Independence states that governments are created to secure the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

The Declaration of Independence also states that the “people have the right to alter or abolish a government that is destructive to these rights.”