The United States Declaration of Independence lists 27 colonial grievances against King George III.
The grievances form the indictment section of the document. They accuse the king of actions such as obstructing colonial laws, dissolving representative bodies, maintaining standing armies, restricting trade, and interfering with colonial justice. Together, they present the political case for separating from Great Britain.
The number 27 refers to the commonly counted grievances in the final Declaration. It is separate from the thirteen colonies and from the document’s famous natural-rights language. Congress edited Jefferson’s draft, including removing a passage about slavery, before approving the final text.
The grievance list was designed for persuasion as well as record-keeping. It explained to colonists and foreign audiences why Congress claimed that the colonies should become independent states.