Declaration of Independence (Grievances 5 & 6): The King Dissolves Colonial Legislatures

This is the third episode in a podcast series celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by exploring the colonies’ grievances against King George III. Grievances 5 and 6 address the King’s dissolution of colonial assemblies and his refusal to cause new assemblies to be elected.In addition to providing background on the grievances, the episode examines how they may have influenced the Framers when they drafted the Constitution at the Federal Convention in 1787. In particular, the episode considers how the Framers sought to prevent the federal government from interfering with state legislatures’ work and sought to prevent the President from interfering with Congress’s work.