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Which of the following best describes the Declaration of Independence?

- It is primarily a religious document that grants religious freedom to all thirteen colonies.

-It is a document stealthily designed to grant freedom to all slaves in the North.

-It is a foreign policy document designed to convince the French to side with the American colonists.

-It contained numerous grievances against the British Parliament.

-It was drafted by Benjamin Franklin, with slight editorial modifications by John Adams and Ned Perkins.

User Gented
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2 Answers

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Final answer:

The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson and others, contained numerous grievances against British rule and is renowned for its democratic ideals and global impact on liberty and self-governance. It remains a pillar of American democracy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Declaration of Independence best describes the fourth option: it contained numerous grievances against the British Parliament. Drafted by Thomas Jefferson along with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, known as the Committee of Five, this historic document officially proclaimed the thirteen colonies' independence from Britain. It was not a religious document, nor intended to grant freedom to the slaves in the North, nor just a foreign policy document aimed at the French, nor was it drafted solely by Benjamin Franklin.

The Declaration is a foundational document of American government, detailing a list of grievances against British rule, affirming democratic principles such as the statement "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal", and displaying Enlightenment ideals that embody the spirit of American democracy. It also declared that people had the right to "alter or abolish" oppressive government. The charges within aimed not only to express economic injustices but also to highlight the king's neglect of principles of self-government, leading to the American Revolutionary War.

Moreover, the Declaration of Independence has had a worldwide impact, serving as an inspiration for many other movements seeking independence from colonial rule. It remains a revered symbol of liberty and democratic principles.

User Alhan
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Answer:

Contained numerous grievances against the British Parliament.

Step-by-step explanation:

1. The Declaration of Independence is a paper that the American colonies wrote a long time ago.

2. It tells the King of England why the colonies wanted to be independent and not controlled by him anymore.

3. The paper says that the colonies had many problems with the King and the government in England.

4. The people who wrote the paper were important leaders like Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams.

5. One person named Ned Perkins did not help write it.

6. The Declaration of Independence is not a religious document or a plan to free all slaves.

7. It was written to explain why the colonies wanted to be free and have their own government.

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User Jasper Kennis
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