27 Grievances
The Declaration of Independence contains 27 Grievances or complaints that the 13 colonies had against King George III. Out of the 27 grievances they are broken into three different sections. When Thomas Jefferson was writing the grievances he wanted to write them in a way that everyday colonists would be able to understand and agree with. Thomas Jefferson did this to build support for the revolutionary act that the Declaration of Independence would represent.
Grievances 1-12 are complaints on the abuse of power by King George III. Grievance 5 - "He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people." Meaning of Grievance: "Dissolved Representative Houses" means the king canceled meetings of colonial lawmakers. Grievances 13-22 are actions by the king and Parliament that violated the British Constitution. Grievance 16 -"For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world" Meaning of Grievance: Many colonists were forced to buy and/or trade for British goods only. The port of Boston was closed as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. Grievances 23-27 are the charges against the king for making war on the colonists. Grievance 26 -"He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country. . ." Meaning of Grievance: "Constrained" means to force. The king forced colonists to serve in the British navy. |