Which document, signed in 1776, proclaimed the United States as a free and independent state?

Which document, signed in 1776, proclaimed the United States as a free and independent state?

• A. Articles of Confederation
• B. Declaration of Independence
• C. Treaty of Paris
• D. Constitution

Answer: (B)

The main idea tested is recognizing the document that announced the United States as free and independent in 1776. The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, proclaimed that the colonies were no longer under British rule and had become independent states. It argues that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed and outlines why separation from Britain was necessary, including a list of grievances against King George III. It also asserts natural rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and the idea that all people are created equal. The other documents came at different times or served different purposes: the Articles of Confederation laid out an early, weaker framework of government after independence; the Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1783; and the Constitution established the current framework of U.S. government in 1787. Hence, the document that fits the description is the Declaration of Independence.

The main idea tested is recognizing the document that announced the United States as free and independent in 1776. The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, proclaimed that the colonies were no longer under British rule and had become independent states. It argues that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed and outlines why separation from Britain was necessary, including a list of grievances against King George III. It also asserts natural rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and the idea that all people are created equal. The other documents came at different times or served different purposes: the Articles of Confederation laid out an early, weaker framework of government after independence; the Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1783; and the Constitution established the current framework of U.S. government in 1787. Hence, the document that fits the description is the Declaration of Independence.