The Virginia Declaration of Rights
and the Introductory Paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence
Exhibit Table of Contents
Virginia’s Statement of Rights
Before the Declaration of Independence laid out its famed “self-evident” truths that “all men are created equal” and have “certain unalienable Rights,” Jefferson’s home state of Virginia released a similar statement. Scholars including Pauline Maier and Danielle Allen have demonstrated the connections between Jefferson’s exposition of truths and rights in the second paragraph of the Declaration and ideas contained in the first article of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. In May 1776, the Virginia Convention sitting in Williamsburg named a committee to prepare a bill of rights and a constitution for the state. George Mason took the leading role in drafting the statement of rights. The committee presented the draft of 18 articles or propositions as a report to the full convention on May 27. John Dixon and William Hunter’s Virginia Gazette printed the report on June 1.
It is likely that Jefferson received it from one of his contacts in Virginia, but the draft Declaration of Rights also appeared in Philadelphia newspapers as soon as June 6, when the Pennsylvania Evening Post published it (giving the report the incorrect date of May 24). The Pennsylvania Ledger followed suit on June 8, and the Pennsylvania Gazette on the 12th. In Williamsburg, some members of the convention hesitated over the opening proposition that “all men are born equally free,” fearing that it might undercut the system of slavery on which they relied. They were assured by Edmund Randolph and others “that slaves not being constituent members of our society could never pretend to any benefit from such a maxim,” and the convention adopted the Declaration of Rights by unanimous vote on June 11.
Texts
The Declaration of Independence
(first two paragraphs)
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. 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. 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. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid World.
Virginia Declaration of Rights
(introduction and first article)
WILLIAMSBURG, May 24.
The following Declaration was reported to the Convention by the Committee appointed to prepare the same, and referred to the consideration of a Committee of the whole Convention; and, in the mean time, is ordered to be printed for the perusal of the members.
A DECLARATION of RIGHTS made by the Representatives of the good people of Virginia, assembled in full and free Convention; which rights do pertain to us and our posterity, as the basis and foundation of government.
THAT all men are born equally free and independant, and have certain inherent natural rights, of which they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity; among which are the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Additional Reading
Danielle Allen, Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality (New York, 2014).
Pauline Maier, American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence (New York, 1997).
Robert A. Rutland, ed., The Papers of George Mason, 1725-1792, 3 vols. (Chapel Hill, 1970).