Colonial Grievances Against the King

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.

• 1. The king must approve all laws, which he has not done in a timely manner.

• 2. Governors can pass laws without the king's approval.

• 3. The king has delegated law-making authority to the Governors.

• 4. Laws can be passed without any approval if they are urgent.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

• The king is sending hired killers to the colonies to do his dirty work.

• The king is recruiting local soldiers to defend the colonies.

• The king is negotiating peace with foreign nations.

• The king is sending supplies to support the colonies.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

• The military is more powerful and has more say than the colonial governments.

• The civil power has complete control over the military.

• The military and civil power operate independently without any influence.

• The military is subordinate to the civil power.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

• The Legislatures are meeting far from their usual places, to make them bend to the will of the king.

• The legislative bodies are gathering in familiar locations to discuss public records.

• He is encouraging legislative bodies to meet at their usual locations for efficiency.

• The king is allowing legislative bodies to meet wherever they choose.

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.

• Colonists are being captured and impressed (forced) into the British Navy.

• Colonists are voluntarily joining the British Navy.

• Colonists are being offered rewards for joining the British Navy.

• Colonists are being trained to fight against the British Navy.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

• 3. If a Legislature stands up to the king, they are shut down or dismissed.

• Legislatures are always supported by the king regardless of their actions.

• The king encourages the Legislature to express their opinions freely.

• Dissolving Representative Houses is a sign of a strong government.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

• The king has sent more of his people, in new jobs, to bother the colonists and consume their resources.

• The king has built new structures and sent soldiers to protect the colonists and their wealth.

• The king has reduced the number of officials and allowed the colonists to manage their own affairs.

• The king has increased taxes and sent advisors to help the colonists improve their economy.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

• The king decides when to fire a judge, the length of their term, and what they are paid.

• Judges are appointed for life and cannot be removed by the king.

• Judges have complete independence in their decisions and salaries.

• The king has no influence over the judiciary system.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

• The king will not let the colonies establish their own courts.

• The king supports the establishment of local courts in the colonies.

• The king has allowed the colonies to create their own legal systems.

• The king has established a new court system for the colonies.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our legislatures.

• The army is in the colonies even though there is no war going on, and the colonial legislatures did not approve its presence.

• The army is only present during times of war, as approved by the legislatures.

• The presence of the army is a result of a recent war declaration by the colonies.

• The army is stationed in the colonies with the full consent of the local governments.