Question

read the excerpts from historical documents.
from the declaration of independence:
when in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of natures god entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
from the declaration of sentiments:
when, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto
how are these excerpts similar?
both insist that drastic action requires a statement of rationale.
both claim that revolutionary change requires hostile combat.
both suggest that oppressive parties should be punished
both demand that laws change based on popular beliefs.

Explanation:

The Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments are both making a case for a significant change (separation from Britain in the first case, a new position for a portion of humanity in the second). The Declaration of Independence mentions that when separation is necessary, "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes" of separation. This implies that when taking a drastic action (separation), a statement of rationale (declaring the causes) is needed. The Declaration of Sentiments, by mirroring the structure ("When, in the course of human events..."), also implies that when a portion of humanity is taking on a new position (a form of drastic change), a similar principle of stating the reasons (by the nature of the document - a declaration of sentiments which would detail reasons) applies. The other options are incorrect:

• The Declaration of Sentiments isn't about hostile combat. The Declaration of Independence was followed by combat, but the text itself in the given excerpt is about declaring causes, not combat.
• There's no mention of punishing oppressive parties in the given excerpts.
• The Declaration of Independence is about natural laws and the laws of Nature's God, not changing laws based on popular beliefs in the sense of transient public opinion (it's more about inherent rights).

Answer:

Both insist that drastic action requires a statement of rationale.