A) Declaration of Independence INCORRECT The Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, primarily announced the colonies' separation from Great Britain and articulated the philosophical principles of natural rights and government by consent. It does not establish a system of government or address the distribution of power between national and state authorities. Its focus is on justifying independence and listing grievances against King George III, not on structuring a federal system.
B) Articles of Confederation INCORRECT The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, created a confederation, not a federal system. Under the Articles, the national government was weak and lacked the power to tax, raise an army, or regulate interstate commerce, while the states retained most sovereignty. This structure proved ineffective, leading to the Constitutional Convention and the creation of the U.S. Constitution, which established a stronger federal government.
C) U.S. Constitution CORRECT The U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1788, is the supreme law of the land and explicitly establishes federalism. It divides powers between the national government and state governments, granting specific enumerated powers to the federal government, reserving other powers to the states, and providing for concurrent powers. The Constitution also includes the supremacy clause, which ensures federal law prevails in conflicts, and the Tenth Amendment, which reserves undelegated powers to the states. This structure is fundamental to American governance.
D) Mayflower Compact INCORRECT The Mayflower Compact, signed in 1620, was an agreement among the Pilgrims to form a self-governing community and to abide by laws for the general good. It is an early example of social contract and self-government, but it did not establish a federal system or address the division of powers between a national government and states. It was a local governing document for a small colony.
