Declaration of Independence Right To Overthrow Government

The United States Declaration of Independence explains that the people of a country are the actual source of its power; they form and give power to the government to protect their life, liberty, and the ways to pursue happiness.

Therefore, it is always the government’s duty to stay responsible and respectful to the country’s common people.

But sometimes, government abandons their duty and instead of protecting people’s rights, they start destructing it.

At this point of time, it becomes the right of the people to overthrow that government from power and form a new one with much better probabilities.

Read the content in the following image to understand everything better (From Declaration’s Preamble Section):

The Origin of Government And Common People’s Authority

State of nature: Far before when we human beings lived in the state of nature, governments had no existence, nor people felt its necessity. But ever after this great void, everything was going fine and people were enjoying their life with simplicity.

Rise of tyrannies: But with the evolution of human society, the social system started moving towards complexity. As soon as the attraction of human beings’ towards private property started increasing, oppression of powerful people over the weak people also started increasing. At this point of time, physically powerful people violated weak people’s life, liberty, and ways to pursue happiness for self benefits.

Birth of government: At this point of time, the majority of the people who were suffering from the atrocities of the tyrants, began finding solutions to protect their life, liberty, and happiness from their violation. In the end, as a solution to the serious issue, they formed an authority and put all their power into that authority’s hand. Also, they took a promise from the authority that they would protect common people’s life, liberty, and happiness under all circumstances (from the tyrants). Over time, this powerful authority became the government (or king).  

Governments’ responsibility: Because the people of a country give power to the government; in this case, it is always the government’s responsibility to protect its people’s interests, instead of destructing them. Again, if the government fails to fulfill this duty or abandons it, then it becomes the people’s right to overthrow it.