Grievance #8 of the Declaration of Independence

What happens when a government shuts down your representatives entirely? In Grievance #5 of the Declaration of Independence, C. David Carlson of Trinity Academy South Bend explains how King George III dissolved colonial legislatures when they pushed back against British policies. Colonial assemblies had a long history of self-government, managing local affairs and representing the people. But as tensions grew in the late 1760s and 1770s, those assemblies began coordinating resistance to British taxes. The response from the Crown was clear: shut them down. Massachusetts was one of the first, but it didn’t stop there. Other colonies faced the same fate, especially as they moved toward unified action through the Continental Congress. This wasn’t just a political disagreement anymore. Dissolving representative governments signaled something bigger: a shift from conflict over policy to a crisis over power and self-rule. This is Part 5 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

What happens when a government disappears completely? In Grievance 6 of the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Mathew Goetz of the White House Historical Association breaks down what it meant when King George III dissolved colonial governments and left the colonies without leadership. Without functioning governments, colonists were left to defend themselves from both external threats and internal instability. This wasn’t just disorder, it challenged the very purpose of government. The Founders were influenced by the idea of the social contract, the belief that government exists to protect the people. When that protection fails, the agreement between the people and the government is broken. By shutting down colonial governments, Jefferson argued that the king violated that contract. And once that happened, the colonists believed they had the right to do something radical: form a new government. This is Part 6 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

What happens when a government limits who can move in and where people can go? In Grievance 7 of the Declaration of Independence, Jennifer Seiter of the UVA Democracy and Capitalism Lab explains how the king restricted immigration and westward expansion, making it harder for people to settle and build new lives in the colonies. Fewer people meant fewer opportunities. Colonists believed growth brought economic opportunity through trade, labor, and new communities. But British policies, including limits tied to the Proclamation of 1763, kept settlers from moving west and expanding. By 1776, this wasn’t just about population control. It was about the future. Colonists saw these restrictions as a direct threat to their ability to improve their lives and build something better. This is Part 7 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

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.