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The document that declared American independence from British rule is the Declaration of Independence. Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, it served as a formal statement announcing the colonies' separation from Britain. The Declaration articulated the philosophical underpinnings of democracy, emphasizing natural rights and the notion that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. This document played a crucial role in rallying support for independence among colonists and was a foundational text in the development of American national identity.

The Constitution is the framework for the United States government established several years later in 1787, while the Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ensuring specific freedoms and rights. The Articles of Confederation were an early form of government that existed before the Constitution and were aimed at uniting the states under a loose confederation, without declaring independence from Britain.