What are the first words of the Declaration of Independence?
The first words of the Declaration of Independence are “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…” These powerful opening lines immediately establish the philosophical and legal justification for the American colonies’ decision to separate from Great Britain.
This initial sentence sets a formal and rational tone, indicating that the act of declaring independence is not taken lightly but is a reasoned and unavoidable step. It frames the separation as a natural and necessary progression in the “Course of human events,” rather than a sudden or arbitrary rebellion. By using such measured language, the authors aimed to present their cause as just and universally understandable, appealing to the “opinions of mankind.”
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