With fourteen full page drawings by Hanson Booth, and over HE Government of the United States must be carried on by intelligent American citizens who have a grasp of the fundamental principles underlying its organization and activities. The purpose of this first volume of The American Viewpoint Series, "We and Our Government," is to state and discuss these principles simply and concisely. The main emphasis throughout the book is placed on ideas vital to an understanding of the actual workings of our Government rather than on a purely encyclopedic statement of detailed activities which change so rapidly from day to day. The authors are indebted to the Editor of the Series, who, with infinite patience and skill, has re-expressed in pictures and captions the text of the book. These illustrations (there are over 500), with their captions, make in themselves a simplified and concise text emphasizing the outstanding points in each chapter much in the same manner as a moving picture develops its theme. In fact the reader has really three connected narratives: First, pictures; second, captions, and third, text. Educators who have examined the first volume have expressed the opinion that this original plan of illustration makes it for all an exceptionally easy, interesting, and helpful book to read. The authors will indeed be satisfied if "We and Our Government' meets the need so often expressed to them by teachers and students for a book which would explain clearly and simply how our Government works and the principles upon which it is built. If it arouses in its readers a desire to take a greater interest in our country and its problems; to know more of its resources, its economics and its people, then those who are responsible for it will be richly rewarded. The authors are greatly indebted to the members of the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Viewpoint Society for their valuable cooperation in the preparation of the text of this book. New York, September, 1922 84 J. W. J. The unanimous Declaration of the torten anté States of America, united for I'll has refused to Where in the lovers of human can't, it normes neceforry for one people to dipolen the political bands which have connected them with another and to spuns among the powers of the earth; the separate ond-equal flotion to which the Laws of Victore and of Nisture's God entitle them, a deant respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they frouid declare the causes which impe them to the separation.. We hold than truth tobe fulf wident, that all men are created equal, that they are indowed by the breat with certain unalienable Rights, that a among there are Life, Liberty and the pursued it Happiness — That to peame these lights, Governments are instituted among Men, darving this part flowers from the consent of the governed, — That whenende sny Four of Government becomes destructive of these ands, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to instructe new Government, laying it's foundation on such prensipler and organizing its powers in such form. as to them shall som mest likely to effect their Safety and Happiness Presence indred. will stickates that Government's long established should not be changed for light and transmit causes; and accordingly all reperience hath shumn, that mankind are more. hipond te jepjes chin coils are sufferable, than to right thomatoes by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. Bret when a long train of abuses and refurpations, pursuing invariably the same Crjest a dengn to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it's there duty, to throw off such Gornament, and to provide new Guards for there friture fromasty - Junk has been the patient sufferana of these kolonus; and fuck i I now the neglecty which constions them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Bistein is a history of expected injures and refurpationes, all having in direct: Ajout the effublishment of an absolute & Tyranny. over them States To prom this, let Forts be fubmitted to a cand world. He has refused his Afsent to class, the most wholesome and necesary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immideak? and pusing importana, unless fuspended in then operation till his Afsent should be stained; and when sosuspended, he has utterly neglected to stend to them pops other Lows for the axommodation of large districts of people: unles thor: people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legistature, a right mestimable to them and formidatie to tants caly. He has called together legislative bodus at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole pompare of a staging them rat compliance with his measures.. He has difoolved Repetitative Houses repeatatly, for opposing with manly firornis he invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for along time. after such depolition, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative flowers, incapable of Annihilation, have turned to the Peoph at large for their excrcin; the rat. ing in the mean time exposed to all the dangus of invasion from withred and convulsions within?? He has endeavoured to prevent the firpulation of these states. ling the Law for Naturalization of "Fragners; refusing to pap others to menvrage. these migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Londs. Administration of Justice, by refeesing his Apont to Laure for cotathishing Judicvary flowers He has made Joedges dependent on his balone, for the Dress of these and payment of ther salaus He has created a multitude of New Offices, and ant hither praims of Officers to hangs our people, and it at their fubitons times of Peace, Standing Armes without the Consent of our langulatures He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil pouse?_ with others to judged so to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by o laws; giving his Apond to the Acts of protended degustation armed troops menyus For protecting there by a mock Trial 1. from punishment for sery Minders which they should comment on the Inhabitants of thes. States: our Trade with all parts of the world.. For Fr. depaving Seas to be tried for foretended offences For acclicking the free Systion of English Laws in as anughbouring Prannce, stablishing then an Arbitrary government, and enlarging it Bewerber so as to rendu i et ona an example and fit inftrumend for introducing the same scvolute ruke into these Colonies: For tobing sebharters abolishing. abusing fundamentally the Farms of our Gover For suspending Legislatives, and declaring themselves inousted with power to regisert for is in all cases whatssions. He has becated. Government here, by declaring us ond of his Protidien and waging War against us.. He has prendered. ravaged our boasts brand our towns, and dashoyed four people How at the time hansporting large lames of fougn Mercenarus to compost the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already beyan with curcumstances of Center, perfidy. fearedy paratioted in the most barbnow ages, and totaling mororting the Head of a aviazed nation.. • Tie has constioned our foliow Citzens taken Captive on the high seas lovear Arms agains "their bounding, to become the executioners of ther friends and Buction, exte fall themselves by their Hands He has excited domestic infurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on tire. inhabitants of our frontiers, the mercilejs Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, undistinguohed destruction of all ages fears and conditions. In every stage of these Oppressions the here Petitioned for Rates in the most humb's terms. Cu repeated Petitions have been ane and by repeated injury. ARina, whose character is this macked by every at which may define a Tyrant, unfit tore the outer of a free people Not have to bun wanting in attentions to our Brittish brother. We have warned them porn tore to torn of altempts by their legitaine to extend an unwaried able pausdintion We have eminded them of the arcemstones of our emigration and fellement here We have appealed to the native posting, and Imaginaremity, and we have conjured them by the tus of our o common hundred to disavow these aspirpations, which would in I inevitacity interrupt. ou connections and correspondence They too have how darf to the vores of justice and of, consanguinity. We must, therefore, acqinesce in the necessity, which donow now our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind's Enemus in War, in Peace Frends. __ We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of Amerian, in Gonual Congress. Assembled appealing to the Suprenne Judge of the world for the rectituds of our de in the Nome, and by stathority of the good People of the Colonies, folemnly publish and decture. That there United Eclones are, and of Right night tobe Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allege and to the Brown Brown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, us and ought to be totally defected; and thes as Tree and Independent states they have full Pown to lory War, conclude Peace, contact Alloness, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent may of ught do.. And for the support of this Peclaration, with a prim tabond on the protation of devine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Features and our faired Honor States may our imposing our own in many cases. of the benefits of Trial by jung For Quarkring Large bodies of For cutting most valuable Saws, and and the lime John Adams William Ellery Abra Clark Clever United States of America, Department of State, To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting I certify that the foregoing is a pactcomes of the ongenal Declaration of Independance as it was ingenssed, laid on the Sproaters table, and signed in the Comimmial Congress is 1776 and deposited with the papers of the Continental Congres in the Department of St State In latemony whore, I John Hay, Secretary of State of the United States, have haunts subscribed my name and caused the seat of the Papartment of State to be afford REDUCED FAC-SIMILE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE United States of America, Department of State. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: I certify that the foregoing is a fac-simile of the original Declaration of Independence as it was engrossed, laid on the Speaker's table, and signed in the Continental Congress in 1776, and deposited with the papers of the Continental Congress in the Department of State. of State of the United States, have hereunto subscribed с cap. Scay's The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America 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 entitles 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. changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be 7 disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably, the same Object such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. To prove He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them to compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within. He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our Legislature. He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation: For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us: For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world: For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by fury: For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses: For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighboring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies: For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation." He has constrained our fellow-Citizens taken captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our WE THEREFORE, the REPRESENTATIVES of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN GENERAL CONGRESS, |