The Declaration of Independence is often misunderstood, which I wrote about here. One of the most important, yet overlooked, sections of the document is the list of indictments against King George III. The indictments are further evidence that the Declaration was never meant to be a revolutionary statement. From the Magna Carta to the colonial constitutions, George III was indicted for violating existing laws. Jefferson listed a total of 27 indictments against the King. Throughout February, we’re going to look at one indictment a day, why it was levied, and why it is still relevant.

Indictment #21 reads as follows:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

Why was the indictment levied: This charge was also a result of the Boston Port Bill of 1774. King George III altered the Massachusetts Constitution to give himself the power to directly appoint military governors (further detailed in Indictment 12), judges, juries, justices of the peace, sheriffs, provosts, marshals and commissioners.

George III even gave himself control over local matters such as town meetings. Great Britain now controlled Massachusetts’ entire form of government. The colony became completely subservient to the King’s wishes.

Why is this important today: The destruction of federalism is a recurring theme in these modern equivalents. Federalism means that each state handles its own matters, with a general government in charge of expressed powers like defense and interstate commerce. Federalism is the bedrock of the American foundation. However, federalism has been almost completely annihilated as evidenced by:

• A nationalist Supreme Court selectively targeting state courts based on how they choose to interpret the Constitution.
• Declaring war for any reason whatsoever. Congressional declarations at the discretion of the people are no longer required. War can be declared unilaterally by a president, a foreign government like the United Nations, or a bureaucracy. Most Americans don’t even know who we are at war with, let alone why.
• Policing, governing and other local matters becoming centrally controlled by the federal government. This is due to the Federal Government bribing states that have become addicted to federal cash…
• …Federal cash that can be manipulated to pay for any cause whatsoever, regardless of whether it is feasible, and passing on the debt to future generations.

The states are now subservient to the Federal Government. This is what the founders feared. Many of the crimes Jefferson indicted George III for are insignificant compared to what the Federal Government does today. By “taking away our charters” they have abolished “our most valuable laws” and altered “fundamentally the forms of our governments.”