_Mr. Jefferson's draft as _As amended by congress._
reported by the committee._

A declaration by the A declaration by the
representatives of the representatives of the
United States of America United States of America
in _general_ congress in congress assembled.
assembled.

When in the course of
human events it becomes
necessary for one people to
dissolve the political bonds
which have connected them
with another, and to assume
among the powers of the
earth the separate and equal Not altered.
station to which the laws of
nature and of nature's God
entitle them, a decent respect
for the opinions of mankind
requires that they should
declare the causes which impel
them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are self-evident, that all men are
created equal; that they are created equal; that they are
endowed by their creator with endowed by their creator with
_inherent and_ inalienable _certain_ inalienable rights;