Changes

==Grievances summary==

==Grievances summary==

The Declaration of Independence contains twenty seven grievances against the British Crown, some of which are explained below.  Historians have noted the similarities with Locke's works and the context of the grievances.<ref name="LockeGrievances">[https://books.google.com/books?id=CIwfBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA48 Jefferson's Declaration of Independence: Origins, Philosophy, and Theology]</ref>

The Declaration of Independence contains twenty seven grievances against the British Crown, some of which are explained below.  Historians have noted the similarities with Locke's works and the context of the grievances.<ref name="LockeGrievances">[https://books.google.com/books?id=CIwfBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA48 Jefferson's Declaration of Independence: Origins, Philosophy, and Theology]</ref>  For generations, well established traditions as well as proclamations such as the [[1100 Charter of Liberties]], [[Magna Carta]], the [[English Bill of Rights]] and others, signify to the people that the King is not to interfere with the [[God]]-given [[Natural Rights]] of the people.  At the time of the founding, such early documents were well known by the people.  By opposing laws deemed necessary for the public good and by constantly meddling in the local affairs of the colonists, the King opposed the end or purpose of government.<ref name="LockeGrievances" />

{|background="none" width="100%" border="1"

{|background="none" width="100%" border="1"

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.  

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.  

|valign="top"|

|valign="top"|

Well established traditions as well as proclamations such as the [[1100 Charter of Liberties]], [[Magna Carta]], the [[English Bill of Rights]] and others signify to the people that the King is not to interfere with the [[God]]-given [[Natural Rights]] of the people.  By opposing laws deemed necessary for the public good, the King opposed the end or purpose of government.<ref name="LockeGrievances" />

The Colonial Assemblies, from time to time, made enactments touching their commercial operations, the emission of a colonial currency, and concerning representatives in the imperial Parliament, but the assent of the sovereign to these laws was withheld. After the Stamp-Act excitements, Secretary Conway informed the Americans that the tumults should be overlooked, provided the Assemblies would make provision for full compensation for all public property which had been destroyed. In complying with this demand, the Assembly of Massachusetts thought it would be "wholesome and necessary for the public good," to grant free pardon to all who had been engaged in the disturbances, and passed an act accordingly. It would have produced quiet and good feeling; but the royal assent was refused.<ref name="Lossing">[https://books.google.com/books?id=tyIoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1824 Our Country: A Household History for All Readers, from the Discovery of America to the Present Time, Volume 1], by [[Benson John Lossing]]</ref>

|-

|-

|valign="top"|

|valign="top"|

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.  

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.  

|valign="top"|

|valign="top"|

Similar to the first grievance, this is an indictment for the King's men in the colonies who have refused to assent to laws conducive to the public good.  "Neglect" is one of two reasons mentioned by Locke as a valid reason for dissolving government.<ref name="LockeGrievances" />

Similar to the first grievance, this is an indictment for the King's men in the colonies who have refused to assent to laws conducive to the public good.  For example, in 1764, the Assembly of New York took measures to conciliate the Six Nations, and other Indian tribes. The motives of the Assembly were misconstrued, representations having been made to the king that the colonies wished to make allies of the Indians, so as to increase their physical power and proportionate independence of the British crown. The monarch sent instructions to all his governors to desist from such alliances, or to suspend their operations until his assent should be given. He then "utterly neglected to attend to them." The Massachusetts Assembly passed a law in 1770, for taxing officers of the British government in that colony. The governor was ordered to withhold his assent to such tax-bill. This was in violation of the colonial charter, and the people justly complained. The Assembly Was prorogued from time to time, and laws of great importance were "utterly neglected."<ref name="Lossing" />

 

"Neglect" is one of two reasons mentioned by Locke as a valid reason for dissolving government.<ref name="LockeGrievances" />

|-

|-

|valign="top"|

|valign="top"|

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

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

|valign="top"|

|valign="top"|

When the British government became informed of the fact that the Assembly of Massachusetts in 1768 had issued a circular to other Assemblies, inviting their co operation in asserting the principle that Great Britain had no right to tax the colonists without their consent, Lord Hillsborough, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, was directed to order the governor of Massachusetts to require the Assembly of that province to rescind its obnoxious resolutions expressed in the circular. In case of their refusal to do so, the governor was ordered to dissolve them immediately. Other Assemblies were warned not to imitate that of Massachusetts, and when they refused to accede to the wishes of the king, as expressed by the several royal governors, they were repeatedly dissolved. The Assemblies of Virginia and North Carolina were dissolved for denying the right of the king to tax the colonies, or to remove offenders out of the country for trial. In 1774, when the several Assemblies entertained the proposition to elect delegates to a general Congress, nearly all of them were dissolved.<ref name="Lossing">[https://books.google.com/books?id=tyIoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1824 Our Country: A Household History for All Readers, from the Discovery of America to the Present Time, Volume 1], by [[Benson John Lossing]]</ref>

When the British government became informed of the fact that the Assembly of Massachusetts in 1768 had issued a circular to other Assemblies, inviting their co operation in asserting the principle that Great Britain had no right to tax the colonists without their consent, Lord Hillsborough, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, was directed to order the governor of Massachusetts to require the Assembly of that province to rescind its obnoxious resolutions expressed in the circular. In case of their refusal to do so, the governor was ordered to dissolve them immediately. Other Assemblies were warned not to imitate that of Massachusetts, and when they refused to accede to the wishes of the king, as expressed by the several royal governors, they were repeatedly dissolved. The Assemblies of Virginia and North Carolina were dissolved for denying the right of the king to tax the colonies, or to remove offenders out of the country for trial. In 1774, when the several Assemblies entertained the proposition to elect delegates to a general Congress, nearly all of them were dissolved.<ref name="Lossing" />

On May 31, 1765, the Virginia House of Burgesses was dissolved by Royal Governor Francis Fauquier.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Lq1rd1ecFCYC&pg=PA85 Profiles in Colonial History]</ref>

On May 31, 1765, the Virginia House of Burgesses was dissolved by Royal Governor Francis Fauquier.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Lq1rd1ecFCYC&pg=PA85 Profiles in Colonial History]</ref>