Which statement best explains why the Declaration of Independence does not directly address the issue of slavery?

The Declaration’s authors left out a direct challenge to slavery partly because the colonies disagreed sharply about it. Some colonies relied on enslaved labor for profit, while others opposed slavery, and raising the issue risked dividing the colonies as they sought independence. Therefore, the best choice is “Some colonies supported enslavement to ensure profits, and others were opposed to enslavement.”

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