Which Reason Does Best Explain Why This Grievance Included In The Declaration?
Actually, Grievances were a list of complaints from the American colonists’ side over the rule of the British Parliament and King George III.
Through the list, they were trying to justify their precision in initiating the rebellion against Great Britain. All these complaints included in the Declaration mainly opposed the autocratic rule of the English authority in the 13 colonies of North America.
Specifically, those complaints they had against British King George III, who was unlawfully interfering with the colonists’ Englishmen’s rights.
| Fact: Before The 13 Colonies’ Independence, American Colonists Considered Themselves As British Citizens. For Them, Great Britain Was Their Mother Country. |
What Did They Mention In This Section?
In the grievance section, they explained why they were angry and sad about the rule of the British government and the actions of King George III toward them.
In the grievance, colonists mainly targeted George III. They argued, King George’s policies were retaliatory towards them, also contrary to the English laws.
They blamed his policies were violating colonists’ rights of living like English citizens and breaking important British rules which were established by the Bill of Rights 1689 and the Magna Carta.
A total of 27 grievances were included in the Declaration of Independence. Here they explained all the things of Britain’s hostile actions and their compulsions to declare independence, even though, they considered Great Britain their mother country.
Main Source of The Grievances Included In The Declaration of Independence
The Grievances, included by the leaders of the 13 colonies in the Declaration had some major similarities with the philosophies of English philosopher John Locke.
It means the leaders who prepared this section, were deeply inspired by the philosophies of John Locke.
John Locke was one of the most brilliant philosophers of the Enlightenment period. He is widely known as the Father of Liberalism.
The Declaration’s popular concept “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” was also borrowed from his philosophy.
Some Grievances, Where Colonists Blamed English King George III
1. In Grievance number one, they blamed King George that he had violated English laws, which were created to protect Englishmen’s rights. Here mainly, they talked about the King’s violation of the Bill of Rights (1689) and Magna Carta.
2. In Grievance number five, colonists blamed him for dissolving their legislative bodies without any proper reason. Colonists called it an ‘Invasion’ of their rights.
3. In Grievance number nine, they mentioned that King George made the colonies’ judiciary system completely dependent upon his will. He did it by controlling judges’ amounts and payment of salaries.
4. In Grievance number fourteenth, they blamed him for passing the Quartering Act of 1765. This act allowed English soldiers to forcefully occupy colonists’ private homes.
5. In Grievance number twenty-four, they blamed King George that he had burned their towns, killed innocent people, and brutally destroyed their coasts.
