Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence asserts the rights to self-governance and independence based on democratic principles, challenging the British monarchy's centralized control and hereditary succession.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences Between the Declaration of Independence and British Monarchy Governance
The Declaration of Independence of the United States is markedly different from the governance of the British monarchy in several fundamental ways. Firstly, the Declaration of Independence, heavily influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, asserts the right to self-governance and independence, directly challenging the authoritarian rule of the British monarchy, which favored centralized control and an absolute monarch. Unlike statement A, the Declaration did not emphasize absolute monarchy; unlike statement B, it did not seek to maintain ties with the British monarchy; and contrasting statement D, it explicitly rejected hereditary succession in favor of a government based on the consent of the governed.
The Declaration, drafted by Thomas Jefferson, lists numerous grievances against King George III, depicting him as a tyrant who infringed upon the colonists' rights, thereby justifying their decision to secede. It argues that all individuals have inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and that governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed, a stark contrast to the hereditary power and divine right typically associated with monarchy.
In summary, the Declaration of Independence provided a framework for a new form of government based on democratic principles and popular sovereignty, breaking away from the tradition of monarchical and dynastic rule represented by the British monarchy at the time.