Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What happens when trials are moved somewhere else?
In Grievance 15 of the Declaration of Independence, Hannah Nolan, PhD Candidate at the University of Maryland, explains how British officials allowed soldiers to be tried outside the colonies, raising serious concerns about accountability.
After events like the Boston Massacre, colonists had already seen that local courts could deliver fair trials, even in highly emotional situations. But the Administration of Justice Act of 1774 changed that, allowing cases involving British soldiers to be moved elsewhere.
For many colonists, this felt like a loophole. If trials weren’t held locally, would justice actually be served?
This grievance wasn’t just about one law. It was about a bigger fear: that those in power could avoid consequences, leaving colonists without real protection under the law.
This is Part 15 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 #Grievance15 #AmericanRevolution #USHistory #BostonMassacre #RuleOfLaw
What happens when trials are moved somewhere else?
In Grievance 15 of the Declaration of Independence, Hannah Nolan, PhD Candidate at the University of Maryland, explains how British officials allowed soldiers to be tried outside the colonies, raising serious concerns about accountability.
After events like the Boston Massacre, colonists had already seen that local courts could deliver fair trials, even in highly emotional situations. But the Administration of Justice Act of 1774 changed that, allowing cases involving British soldiers to be moved elsewhere.
For many colonists, this felt like a loophole. If trials weren’t held locally, would justice actually be served?
This grievance wasn’t just about one law. It was about a bigger fear: that those in power could avoid consequences, leaving colonists without real protection under the law.
This is Part 15 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 #Grievance15 #AmericanRevolution #USHistory #BostonMassacre #RuleOfLaw
