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Grievance #11 of the Declaration of Independence

Why were British troops stationed throughout the colonies during peacetime?

In Grievance #11 of the Declaration of Independence, JJ Nattrass from George Washington University explains why colonists grew increasingly suspicious of the British military presence in America.

After the Seven Years’ War, Britain kept standing armies in the colonies, claiming the troops were there to maintain stability and prevent further conflict. But many colonists saw something very different.

Redcoats appeared not just on the frontier, but in major cities, where their presence began to feel less like protection and more like surveillance and intimidation.

Events like the Boston Massacre only deepened those fears. To many Americans, the presence of standing armies without local consent looked like a direct threat to liberty and self-government.

This is Part 11 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

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