Grievance #9 of the Declaration of Independence

What happens when a government disappears completely? In Grievance 6 of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Mathew Goetz of the White House Historical Association breaks down what it meant when King George III dissolved colonial governments and left the colonies without leadership. Without functioning governments, colonists were left to defend themselves from both external threats and internal instability. This wasn’t just disorder, it challenged the very purpose of government. The Founders were influenced by the idea of the social contract, the belief that government exists to protect the people. When that protection fails, the agreement between the people and the government is broken. By shutting down colonial governments, Jefferson argued that the king violated that contract. And once that happened, the colonists believed they had the right to do something radical: form a new government. This is Part 6 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

What happens when a government limits who can move in and where people can go? In Grievance 7 of the Declaration of Independence, Jennifer Seiter of the UVA Democracy and Capitalism Lab explains how the king restricted immigration and westward expansion, making it harder for people to settle and build new lives in the colonies. Fewer people meant fewer opportunities. Colonists believed growth brought economic opportunity through trade, labor, and new communities. But British policies, including limits tied to the Proclamation of 1763, kept settlers from moving west and expanding. By 1776, this wasn’t just about population control. It was about the future. Colonists saw these restrictions as a direct threat to their ability to improve their lives and build something better. This is Part 7 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

Can justice really be fair if judges answer to the king? In Grievance #8 of the Declaration of Independence, Chris Canty, graduate student at George Washington University, explains how King George III blocked laws that would establish independent courts in the colonies. Colonists wanted judges to serve independently, protected from political pressure. In England, judges could hold office during “good behavior,” helping ensure fair decisions. But the king repeatedly rejected similar protections in the colonies and kept judges dependent on the Crown. For colonists, this wasn’t just a legal issue. It was proof that they were being treated differently than subjects living in England and denied the same protections under the law. The fight over independent courts became so important that the principle later appeared in Article III of the U.S. Constitution. This is Part 8 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

What were the grievances laid out in the Declaration of Independence? Help students define each grievance through modern song lyrics in our interactive quiz leading up to Constitution Day. This Constitution Day, BRI is highlighting the years between the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787.