What document declared the independence of the United States?

The document that declared the independence of the United States is the Declaration of Independence. This historic text, adopted on July 4, 1776, formally announced the colonies' separation from British rule. It provides a philosophical foundation for the new nation, articulating the colonies' right to self-govern and laying out the principles of individual liberty and government by consent of the governed. The Declaration expresses the colonists' grievances against King George III and asserts their right to be free and independent states.

In contrast, the Constitution is the framework of the federal government established later in 1787, while the Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution, focusing on protecting individual liberties. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, declared the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate states but was not related to the founding of the United States as an independent nation. The Declaration of Independence is foundational to American history and identity, marking the beginning of a new nation dedicated to principles of democracy and freedom.