What does the second part of the Declaration of Independence challenge?

• A. The authority of Parliament
• B. The divine right of kings
• C. The power of the judicial branch
• D. The legitimacy of monarchy

Answer: (B)

The second part of the Declaration of Independence primarily challenges the divine right of kings, which is the doctrine that monarchs derive their authority directly from God and that they are accountable only to God for their actions. This notion held that a king’s legitimacy was unquestionable and that rebellion against the monarch was a sin.

In the context of the Declaration, the authors argue that individuals have inherent rights that cannot be overridden by any king or government. They assert that governments are instituted to secure these rights, and if a government fails to do so, the people have the right to alter or abolish it. By rejecting the divine right of kings, the document establishes the foundation for a government based on the consent of the governed, thus promoting the idea that authority should stem from the people rather than a monarch's supposed divinely ordained position. This was revolutionary at the time and laid the groundwork for democratic principles.