Revisiting the Declaration of Independence

Foundational document is as relevant as ever

Thomas Jefferson, in writing the Declaration of Independence with assistance from John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, enumerated autocratic offenses that he attributed to King George III of Great Britain. The list reflects beliefs that were foundational to the creation of a new nation and which unified people new to North America. It touches on issues that remain topical today: immigration, taxation, global trade, elections and the rule of law. The list appears below, by George.  — Steve Bornhoft

The present king of Great Britain has …          

Refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

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.

Refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

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.

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

Refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

Endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

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

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

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

Kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

Affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

Combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation,

Abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

Plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

Transported large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

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.

Excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers.