But when a long train of abuses and usurpations. . . evinces a design to reduce [the people] 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. Vocabulary support:

Usurpation means “taking by illegal means.”

Evinces means “showing.”

Despotism means “abuse of power by a ruler.”

Whose actions do the phrases “abuses and usurpations” and “absolute despotism” refer to here?

The British

The French

The Continental Congress

The other colonies