The Declaration of Independence Grievances
17. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to how King George III turned the colonists against each other, Tories vs. Patriots, and is now also using Native Americans against the colonists.
1. He has refused to Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to how King George III will not attend to the colonists' rights.
2. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to how King George III will not attend to the colonists' rights.
12. For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
Thomas Jefferson is referring to taxation without representation.
10. For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the Boston Massacre when the harassed British soldiers fired into a crowd killing colonists, but suffered minimal consequences.
16. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the British impressment of the colonists, which forced colonists into the navy and made them fight fellow colonists.
11. For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the Coercive Acts, which closed the Boston Harbor after the Boston Tea Party which was in retaliation of the Tea Act.
3. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the Coercive Acts, which dissolved the Massachusetts legislature.
13. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging war against us.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the Olive Branch Petition, which was the last attempt at peaceful negotiation. In response, King George III declared the colonists rebels.
9. For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the Quartering Acts, which forced colonists to house soldiers.
7. He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the constant presence of the British military, which the colonists must take in, care for, and pay. This infringes on the colonists' private domain. Because there is no war, there should be no army; they feel threatened by the army.
14. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to Thomas Paine's accusations of King George III's tyranny.
4. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encouraged their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to King George III's anti-immigration policies towards Spanish, Germans, and Dutch, who remain loyal to their native countries.
6. He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the creation of positions, including soldiers and tax collectors, which result in the colonists needing to provide for them.
5. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the fact that there is no fair trial by jury.
8. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the replacement of the civilian government with the military as the highest power.
15. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized nation.
Thomas Jefferson is referring to the treachery of King George III. Jefferson appeals to the colonists' fears by describing the horrors the monarch commands his army, as well as German hessians, to commit against the colonists.
