Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence reflects the social contract theory by stating that governments are created to protect inalienable rights, and when they fail, citizens have the right to alter or abolish them. It justifies the colonies' severance from Britain due to the failure to protect their rights and establishes the will of the people as a foundation for governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea of a social contract reflected in the Declaration of Independence is most directly addressed in the text by the notion that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. The Declaration, inspired by the Enlightenment ideas of philosopher John Locke, states that all individuals have inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that governments are created to protect these rights. When a government fails to do so, it is not only the right but also the duty of the people to alter or abolish that government and establish a new one that will secure their safety and happiness.
In this context, the Declaration of Independence asserts that Britain had failed to meet its responsibilities by depriving the colonists of their rights, and therefore, justified the colonies' decision to establish a government that better reflected the will of the people. The document serves as a historically significant example of how the social contract theory was applied to justify the right of the people to challenging and overthrowing an oppressive ruler and establishing a government that respects and protects their inalienable rights as a fundamental principle of democracy.