Answer :
Answer:
A. Established equality as the basis for American political thought, and life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as universal rights.
Explanation:
Here's why the other options are not correct:
b. Specifically includes only white men: The Declaration of Independence does not explicitly limit its ideals to any race or gender. However, the concept of universal rights as expressed in the document did not fully extend to all citizens at the time, particularly enslaved people.
c. Was a part of the Articles of Confederation: The Declaration of Independence is a separate document from the Articles of Confederation. The Declaration announced the separation from Britain, while the Articles of Confederation established a weak central government among the newly independent states.
d. Had to be ratified by the states after the Revolution: The Declaration of Independence was not a constitution and did not require ratification by the states. It was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain.
