佩恩所著的小冊子《常識》在出版以後,引起了許多殖民地領導人物的共鳴,他們都認同「殖民地應該獨立」的想法。在1776 年6月的第二次大陸會議成立了一個委員會,起草一份宣布殖民地獨立的文件。而湯瑪斯.傑佛遜(Thomas Jefferson)是這份文件的主要作者……
【Declaring Independence】
The Declaration of Independence expresses three main ideas. First, Jefferson argued that all men possess unalienable rights. He stated that these basic rights include “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Jefferson's second point was that King George III had violated the colonists' rights. Third, Jefferson argued that the colonies had the right to break away from Great Britain. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence. The United States of America was born.
【單字及片語】
• the Declaration of Independence (美國)獨立宣言
• unalienable right 不可剝奪的權利
• pursuit (n.) 追求
本文摘錄自《讀出好英文 2》,中文翻譯將會張貼於眾文粉絲團