27 Grievances → Constitutional Fixes
Color Key (Print‑Friendly):
- 🟦 Legislative Fix — Congress gains power/limits on the executive
- 🟥 Rights Fix — Bill of Rights protections
- 🟩 Judicial Fix — Courts, jury trials, due process
- 🟨 Structural Fix — Federalism, separation of powers
- ⬛ No Direct Clause — Principle addressed indirectly
Grievances 1–5: Attacks on Self‑Government & Representation
|
Grievance |
Constitutional Fix |
Category |
|
1. King refused necessary laws |
Preamble; Article I; 17th Amendment |
🟦 Legislative |
|
2. Blocked urgent laws & neglected them |
Article I, Sec. 8; 10th Amendment |
🟨 Structural |
|
3. Demanded colonists give up representation |
Article II limits; Senate confirmations |
🟦 Legislative |
|
4. Forced legislatures to meet far away |
10th Amendment; 2nd Amendment |
🟨 Structural |
|
5. Dissolved legislatures |
Article I; 10th Amendment |
🟦 Legislative |
Grievances 6–12: Military Abuse & Loss of Civil Authority
|
Grievance |
Constitutional Fix |
Category |
|
6. Refused new elections |
Article I, Sec. 8 (militia & army limits) |
🟦 Legislative |
|
7. Restricted immigration & settlement |
Article I, Sec. 8; Article II, Sec. 1 |
🟦 Legislative |
|
8. Obstructed justice |
Article III; 6th & 7th Amendments |
🟩 Judicial |
|
9. Judges dependent on King |
Article II, Sec. 2; state constitutions |
🟩 Judicial |
|
10. “Swarms of officers” enforcing taxes |
Article I, Sec. 7–8; voting amendments |
🟦 Legislative |
|
11. Standing armies in peacetime |
Article I, Sec. 8 (2‑year funding rule) |
🟦 Legislative |
|
12. Military above civil authority |
Civilian control; Insurrection Act |
🟨 Structural |
Grievances 13–17: Foreign Jurisdiction, Trade, & Taxation
|
Grievance |
Constitutional Fix |
Category |
|
13. Foreign jurisdiction & admiralty courts |
Commerce Clause; judicial review |
🟩 Judicial |
|
14. Quartering troops |
3rd Amendment |
🟥 Rights |
|
15. Mock trials protecting soldiers |
Article III; 6th & 7th Amendments |
🟩 Judicial |
|
16. Cutting off trade |
Commerce Clause |
🟦 Legislative |
|
17. Taxation without consent |
Article I, Sec. 7–8 |
🟦 Legislative |
Grievances 18–22: Destruction of Legal Rights & Government Forms
|
Grievance |
Constitutional Fix |
Category |
|
18. Denial of jury trials |
Article III; 6th & 7th Amendments |
🟩 Judicial |
|
19. Transporting colonists overseas for trial |
Article III; 6th Amendment |
🟩 Judicial |
|
20. Arbitrary government in Quebec |
Article IV, Sec. 3; 1st Amendment |
🟥 Rights |
|
21. Taking away charters & altering governments |
Article VI (Supremacy); Oath Clause |
🟨 Structural |
|
22. Suspending legislatures |
Article I (Congress legislates) |
🟦 Legislative |
Grievances 23–27: War, Mercenaries, Impressment, Frontier Conflict
|
Grievance |
Constitutional Fix |
Category |
|
23. Declared colonies out of protection & waged war |
Article I, Sec. 8 (Congress declares war) |
🟦 Legislative |
|
24. Attacks on coasts & towns |
Shared war powers |
🟨 Structural |
|
25. Use of foreign mercenaries |
No direct clause; Congress controls war |
⬛ Indirect |
|
26. Forcing Americans into British service |
No direct clause; principle of liberty |
⬛ Indirect |
|
27. Inciting frontier violence |
Congress controls tribal relations |
🟦 Legislative |