What document declared independence from Great Britain?

The Declaration of Independence is a crucial document in American history that formally announced the colonies' separation from Great Britain. Drafted in 1776, it articulates the colonies' grievances against King George III and asserts the fundamental principles of individual liberty and government by consent of the governed. This document not only marked the birth of the United States as an independent nation but also laid the philosophical foundation for the new government, emphasizing natural rights and the idea that people have the right to alter or abolish any form of government that becomes destructive to these ends.

The Constitution, while vital for establishing the framework of the U.S. government, was adopted later in 1787 and does not discuss independence from Britain. The Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, guarantees individual freedoms and rights but was also established much later in 1791 to address concerns over civil liberties. The Articles of Confederation served as the first governing document of the United States after independence but was inherently a framework for governance and not a declaration of separation from Britain. Each of these documents plays a significant role in the history of the United States, but none fulfill the specific role of declaring independence as the Declaration of Independence does.