(Source: Lostpine — The 27 Grievances Explained)
🔹 1. Original Grievance
“He has refused for a long time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected…”
🔹 2. What This Meant to the Colonists
After dissolving assemblies, the King refused to allow new elections, leaving colonies without functioning governments and vulnerable to unrest.
🔹 3. Historical Context
New York’s Assembly was suspended under the New York Restraining Act (1767). Massachusetts’ Assembly was dissolved for nearly a year. Without elected bodies, colonists faced dangers from invasion, internal conflict, and lack of legal authority.
🔹 4. Constitutional Response
- Article I, Section 8 — Congress controls raising armies and militias.
- The President = Commander‑in‑Chief, but only after Congress declares war.
- Elections cannot be suspended by the federal government.
🔹 5. Key Vocabulary
- Dissolution
- Mutiny Act
- Militia
🔹 6. Critical Thinking Questions
- Why is a government without elections dangerous?
- How does the Constitution prevent the suspension of elections?
- Why did the Founders divide military power between Congress and the President?
🔹 7. Short Writing Prompt
Explain how Grievance 6 shows the colonists’ fear of power vacuums and military rule.
🔹 8. Extension Activity
Create a timeline showing how long each colony went without an elected assembly.