What was the primary purpose of the Declaration of Independence?

The primary purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to declare independence from Britain. Drafted in 1776, the Declaration served as a formal statement asserting the colonies' intention to separate from British rule and outlining the justification for this decision.

The document enumerates grievances against King George III and highlights the Enlightenment principles of individual rights and government by the consent of the governed. By formally declaring independence, the colonies sought not only to assert their autonomy but also to garner support for their cause, both domestically and internationally. The Declaration signified a crucial turning point in American history, as it articulated the colonies' desire for self-governance, making it clear that they no longer regarded themselves as subjects of the British crown.

Other choices, while significant in the broader context of American history, do not represent the Declaration's principal goal. Creating a new government and establishing laws were subsequent actions that stemmed from the independence declared in the document, while ratifying the Constitution occurred after the Revolutionary War and aimed at structuring the new government that the Declaration sought independence for.