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Which of the following documents provided a rationale for the Declaration of Independence?

  1. US Constitution

  2. Common Sense by Thomas Paine

  3. Magna Carta

  4. Federalist Papers

The correct answer is: US Constitution

The incorrect options are B, C, and D. Although Common Sense by Thomas Paine was influential in encouraging colonists to declare independence from Britain, it did not provide a specific rationale for the Declaration of Independence. The Magna Carta was a medieval document stating the rights and privileges of British nobles, which did not directly contribute to the Declaration of Independence. The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written in support of the US Constitution, which was created after the Declaration of Independence and thus could not have provided a rationale for it. Therefore, the only option that accurately provided a rationale for the Declaration of Independence is the US Constitution.