What did the Declaration of Independence do?

• A. Declared our independence from Great Britain
• B. Established the Constitution
• C. Created the Bill of Rights
• D. Designed the Great Seal

Answer: (A)

It declared independence from Great Britain, announcing that the colonies would be free and independent states and ending political ties with Britain. It also explains why separation was needed by presenting a philosophy of government: people have unalienable rights, governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed, and when a government fails to protect those rights, people can alter or abolish it. The document lists the king’s abuses as part of the justification for breaking away and asserts the colonies’ new status in the world.

This is not about creating a new framework for government—that comes later with the Constitution. It also isn’t about adding a Bill of Rights or designing the Great Seal; those are separate tasks that occur after independence is declared.