Final answer:
The signatories of the Declaration of Independence took a bold and risky step that signified commitment to the cause of freedom and the establishment of a government based on the consent of the governed. By doing so, they risked their lives for independence and initiated the shaping of American democracy influenced by Enlightenment ideals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The members of the Second Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence had significant implications tied to their action. Once they affixed their signatures to the document, they became rebels against the British Crown, effectively committing an act of treason which was punishable by death. The signatories fully understood the gravity of their action; it was a bold assertion of the American colonies' right to govern themselves and a direct challenge to the authority of King George III.
In addition to engendering personal risk, the signers also laid the foundation for a new nation. Their collective action transformed the rebellion into a struggle for independence and became the basis for American democracy, rooted in the Enlightenment philosophy of natural rights and the social contract. These were radical ideas that clashed with the existing monarchical and colonial systems.
Their pledge to mutual support, "We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor," epitomized the seriousness and solidarity necessary to lead the colonies through the ensuing Revolutionary War. By declaring independence, they burned bridges with Britain and committed to foreign alliances and cooperation to support their fight for liberty.