Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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What happens when a government brings in outsiders to fight its own people?

In Grievance #25 of the Declaration of Independence, Savannah Johnston @SavyPolitics from Utah Valley University explains how King George III hired foreign mercenaries to fight in the colonies.

These troops, often called Hessians, were brought in from German states to support the British war effort. For colonists, this crossed a line. It wasn’t just about military strategy, it felt like a ruler turning against his own people.

The presence of foreign soldiers made the conflict more intense and more personal. It pushed many colonists who were still undecided to take a side.

At its core, this grievance raised a serious question: if a king is willing to use foreign forces against his own subjects, can he still claim their loyalty?

This is Part 25 of our 27-part series breaking down every grievance that led to the American Revolution, building toward Independence Day.

Explore more:
billofrightsinstitute.org/constitution-day

#DeclarationOfIndependence #Grievance25 #AmericanRevolution #USHistory #Hessians #RevolutionaryWar