Student Question
What does the phrase "To prove [England has interfered with colonial rights], let Facts be submitted to a candid world. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good" mean?
Quick answer:
This phrase from the Declaration of Independence highlights the colonists' grievances against the British monarchy, specifically King George III. It accuses him of rejecting laws vital for public welfare, undermining the colonists' rights and governance. By refusing to assent to these laws, the King violated the principle of government by consent of the governed, prompting the colonies to justify their pursuit of independence by presenting these facts to the world.
In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson believed the colonists needed to explain to the world what the King and the British government had done that caused the colonists to feel they had to declare independence from Great Britain. This section was the longest part of the Constitution. It lists the actions of the King and the British government that were causing the colonists to declare independence.
The phrase “He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good” means that King refused to give his approval to laws that were designed to help the public. These laws included dealing with the government protecting the rights of the people. The colonists felt this was a fundamental responsibility of the government. This statement also references the idea of government being based on the consent of the governed. By having to get the King to approve their laws, consent really didn't exist. With the King not approving these laws, these ideas were not happening.
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