The Declaration of Independence begins with a paragraph declaring independence and saying that the founders believed they needed to explain why they wanted to separate from Britain. Then came the paragraph that were usually think of as the beginning of the declaration, and probably the most famous sentence in it: “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 final section of the sentence expresses the fourth core value of the United States: the power to change.
Unpacking the power to change
English has changed a lot in the past 250 years, and it isn’t always easy to read and understand language from 1776. The end of the sentence doesn’t get quoted as often as the earlier sections, but it is still very important. “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends” means, if the government of a group of people does not allow or support equality, natural rights, and the consent of the governed, the people can take action.
If that happens, “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.” That is, if people are unhappy with their government, they should be able to change it.
That was an extremely radical idea in 1776. Governments were up to the kings, not the people. People were very likely to be unhappy with their governments, and by and large the governments didn’t care. Governments were typically changed by conquest from foreign powers, not by action among the people.
The American Revolution
The North American colonies didn’t move directly from unhappiness to violence. They petitioned the king and Parliament, wrote pamphlets and resolutions, developed a colonial congress to coordinate political pressure, and organized boycotts to pressure Britain economically. In 1775, they sent a letter to King George requesting changes. The king refused to read the letter and declared the colonists “in open rebellion.”
Battles began soon after. By the time the Declaration of Independence was written and approved, the Continental Army and the British had been at war for more than a year.
Since that time, Americans have changed governments many, many times. While the Civil War was a violent effort to change the government, we hold peaceful transfers of power every four years in the form of presidential elections. There were a few other republics with elected leaders in 1776, but it was extremely rare. In none of the republics existing at that time were all men allowed to vote for their leader. The idea that the people (or even just the male people) had the power to change their government was a bold new idea.
Puerto Rico
Residents of Puerto Rico, even though they are birthright U.S. citizens, cannot vote for the President of the United States. This is contrary to U.S. core values. Puerto Ricans can change their local government — their governor, House, and Senate — just as U.S. citizens in the state can. but, as a territory, residents of Puerto Rico are shut out of the full manifestation of American democracy. Puerto Rico voters have said repeatedly that they do not consent to continue as a U.S. territory. They want a change: they want to become a state of the Union, with full equality to the rest of the states.
The situation of Puerto Rico as it currently stands is a betrayal of the core values of the United States — all four of them. Naw, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it is the perfect time to end this source of shame. Congress must listen to the voice of the people and admit Puerto Rico as a state.
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