DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE GRIEVANCES THAT LED TO THE BIRTH OF A NATION
The Declaration of Independence is perhaps the most important document in our nation’s history. Its 1,458 words (including the names of the signers) led to the birth of our nation. Among those words were the Declaration of Independence grievances, outlining everything Britain had done wrong and why the soon-to-be Americans were seeking independence. Leading up to this year’s 4th of July celebrations, we’re going to cover some of the most impactful Declaration of Independence grievances that directly contributed to the freedoms we all hold so dear today.
Leading Up to the Declaration of Independence Grievances
There are a total of 27 Declaration of Independence grievances. The colonists had been persecuted, taxed to death, and largely ignored by Britain's governing bodies. Following enlightening publications like Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, a persuasive pamphlet advocating for the sovereignty of the 13 colonies, the people began to unify under a common goal: getting the h*ll out of Dodge. There were many declarations written and put forth by individual colonies in support of larger sovereignty for all. Not all colonies endorsed the idea of independence; however, their loyalist sympathies didn’t change the suffering they had experienced at the hands of the Crown. On May 15th, 1776, despite Maryland stomping out of the committee in protest, a preamble was created as a… well, preamble for what was to come. By the time July rolled around, Jefferson had finished the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, chock full of grievances against Parliament and the Crown. For two days, Congress tore apart Jefferson’s work, editing it and removing any redundancies and language that might cause other colonies to pass on signing the Declaration. The Declaration was passed on July 2nd, 1776, with twelve colonies voting yes and New York abstaining from their vote. After a couple more days of editing the draft, the Declaration and the 27 grievances in the Declaration of Independence were officially approved on July 4th, 1776.
Top 5 Declaration of Independence Grievances
What were the colonists' grievances? Since there were 27 in total, the fledgling Americans obviously had a lot of beef with the way Britain had gone about their business. Some of their grievances that have had a huge impact on our government and society can be seen below.
1. Grievance 17: "For imposing taxes on us without our consent"
NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION! That is the battle cry of Grievance 17 from the Declaration of Independence. Perhaps the most popular grievance of all, number 17 ensures that all tax-paying Americans have representatives to speak for them in their government. Now whether they actually speak for us is a different matter entirely…
2. Grievance 14: "For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us"
Ever heard of the Third Amendment? “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.” That comes directly from Grievance 14. No matter what, you won’t be forced to have a military sleepover in your own home.
3. Grievance 1: "He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good"
Before the Declaration of Independence was passed, many colonies were required to send proposed laws directly to the King for approval or denial, which, Jefferson argues, is in direct violation of the main principle of a fair government: rule by consent. The King would often refuse laws that were in the best interest of the colonists and the country, like the colonists’ attempts to abolish the slave trade, as proposed by Jefferson in his first draft of the Declaration.
4. Grievance 18: “For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury”
The Stamp Act of 1765 imposed outrageous taxes on the people, all while condemning them to trials without a jury should they refuse these unfair taxes. This was in an attempt to weed out any who might be inclined to challenge British authority and keep power out of the hands of the people. Jefferson basically said that would NOT fly in his country, and he made sure that everyone has a right to a fair and speedy trial with an impartial jury, as outlined by the Sixth Amendment.
5. Grievance 24: "He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people."
This one is pretty simple: King George was just being a total d*ck to the colonists because he knew he was losing power. This grievance is a core principle of our nation. The United States of America don’t take no sh*t!
Grievances for Good
The Declaration of Independence grievances paved the way for the rights we all enjoy and our Constitutional freedoms. These five grievances were incredibly important in the birth of our nation; however, there are 22 more grievances that we didn’t list. For a full list of grievances, Declaration of Independence archives all over the internet can enlighten you. For now, go ahead and bask in your freedoms and the road to sovereignty that was paved by the men (and one woman) who signed the Declaration of Independence. More like this:5 Grilling Products Under $100 for Your 4th of July Celebration
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER