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 #27 reads as follows:
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions.
Why was the indictment levied: Last one! George III’s governors and ministers encouraged Indian tribes to attack colonists as early as 1774. Lord Dunmore of Virginia also encouraged slave revolts to drain the colonists. These were the “domestic insurrections” Jefferson cited.
“Merciless Indian Savages” should also be understood in historical context. The colonists were British subjects and by this point in history, there were established European rules of war. You did not attack someone who was retreating. You did not attack women and children. Some Indian tribes did not obey these rules, and this shocked the colonists. It was an “undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions.”
The Indians were also not one unified nation, contrary to modern interpretations. Tribes such as the Oneidas of the Six Nations were allied with the colonists. Many of the tribes had also been waging war with each other for centuries before Europeans stepped foot on Western soil. Modern historians paint the Anglo/Indian conflicts in total, simplistic terms. But history is never black and white.
One can argue the naivete of establishing rules for killing human beings on the battlefield, but it’s important to understand that the colonists were only exposed to European rules of engagement and viewed them as norms. George III throwing out the rules of warfare that his government helped normalize was not only an act of violence, but an insult to his American subjects.
Why is this important today: Government directly funds insurrection groups today, as insurrection can be used as an extra-political means to affect the wishes of politicians. Foot-soldiers in groups like Black Lives Matter and Antifa have enacted government sponsored violence, as detailed in previous indictments. The Bolsheviks called these people “useful idiots.”
Neglecting legal consequences only when it suits a political agenda is the definition of tyranny. Rules for some, but not for all. And regardless of where you stand on the issues, politicians have incentives. When they pretend to care about injustices, and allow violence to take place, that only lines their pockets. Cities that are plagued by violence get more money in the form of “federal aid” than law-abiding municipalities. Government likes to be the arsonist and the fire fighter. They enable “undistinguished destruction” for personal gain.
And that concludes our Declaration of Independence indictment series. You can view my articles on all previous indictments here. But we’re not done yet. There are 27 indictments, however there are 28 days in February. Instead of letting that last day slide, we’re going to keep up with the theme and offer something special on day 28.
Tomorrow, February 28, I will be drafting and posting a topical, 2022 Declaration of Independence. I’ll never claim that I have the penmanship or the intellect of Thomas Jefferson, but if you have followed me this far, hopefully you will recognize that I am deeply committed to the 1776 principles of liberty. Regardless of where you stand politically, I hope that I have shed some light on how this train has gone so far off the rails, and I hope you join me tomorrow to hear my potential solutions.