What words of the Declaration of Independence declared war on great Britain?

Answer 1

Only sovereign nations can officially declare war so as British territories, the American colonies could not technically declare war against the Empire. In fact, the American colonies never tried to declare against Great Britain; the Declaration of Independence was exactly what the name suggests, a declaration of sovereignty which did not require open warfare. If the British had not viewed the Declaration as an act of war and simply accepted the loss of their American holdings, the Revolutionary War would likely not have occurred.

The Declaration is viewed as a declaration of war due to the successive events. Its actual language, however, is on the face much less combative. Succinctly stated, the Declaration asserts that humans have an inherent dignity which entitles each individual to his "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" and due to this value of the common man, all governments derive their power from the governed. Due to this contract, the Declaration asserts that a constituency displeased with the government has the right to change their government or establish new government, by revolution if necessary. It then goes on to list a series of grievances against King George III which the Second Continental Congress viewed as grounds for being sufficiently displeased with the British monarch to effectively secede from the Empire, as all attempts to reform the contemporary relationship had failed. Thus it concludes that "these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do."