Grievance #13 of the Declaration of Independence

What happens when the government suddenly floods your town with officials and new rules? In Grievance #10 of the Declaration of Independence, JJ Nattrass from George Washington University explains why colonists were frustrated by the growing number of British offices and officers sent to enforce imperial laws. As Britain passed new measures like the Stamp Act and the Intolerable Acts, enforcement expanded across the colonies. More offices. More officials. More oversight. To colonists, these “swarms of officers” felt intrusive and overwhelming. They collected taxes, enforced regulations, and inserted themselves into everyday life in ways many Americans had never experienced before. This grievance wasn’t just about bureaucracy. Colonists believed British policies were threatening their livelihoods, freedoms, and ability to build lives on their own terms. This is Part 10 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

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.

What happens when military power and government power get combined? In Grievance #12 of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. C.C. Borzilleri explains why colonists were alarmed when British military leaders gained increasing control over colonial government during the imperial crisis. In 1774, Thomas Gage became both royal governor of Massachusetts and Commander in Chief of British forces in North America. To colonists, placing civil and military authority in the hands of one person violated key Enlightenment ideas about limiting power and preventing abuse. The concern wasn’t just about one official. It was about a larger principle: governments need checks and balances so no single authority can dominate the people. Colonists feared that combining military and political power threatened their ability to consent to the laws and systems governing them. This is Part 12 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

Primary sources, videos, essays, lessons, and more about what led to the Declaration of Independence

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.