Final answer:
The Declaration of Independence gave the colonists the right to abolish tyranny and establish a new government, leading to the declaration of their independence from Britain. It set forth a government based on the consent of the governed and listed the colonies' grievances against British rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Declaration of Independence states that the colonists had the right to get rid of tyranny and oppression and create a new government. Asserting these rights, the colonies are declaring their independence from Britain. This historic document, primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson, draws from Enlightenment principles and asserts that governments are meant to protect the rights of the people, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When a government becomes destructive to these ends, the people have the authority to alter or abolish it.
As the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia during the summer of 1776, they agreed that such conditions warranted a separation from Great Britain. The Declaration included a list of grievances against King George III and established American government as a republic based on the consent of the governed. The revolutionary actions of the colonies transitioned them toward becoming independent states, with the signing of the Declaration marking their collective dedication to founding a new type of government.
Eventually, despite initial British military successes, the Continental Army led by General George Washington achieved victory. Support for independence among the colonists was not unanimous, but it was prevalent enough to take hold. The war formally ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, acknowledging the sovereignty of the United States.