Declaration of Independence · US History

The grievance 'For protecting them... from punishment for any Murders which they should commit' refers to which practice?

  1. The use of Native American allies to raid colonial frontier settlements
  2. The trials of British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre
  3. The 'Murder Act' which shielded British officials from colonial law
  4. The hiring of Hessian mercenaries to fight in the colonies
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Correct answer: The 'Murder Act' which shielded British officials from colonial law

This specifically refers to the Administration of Justice Act, which allowed British soldiers and officials to be tried in England rather than the colonies for crimes committed while enforcing the law. Colonists called it the 'Murder Act' because it essentially gave British agents a license to kill.

Difficulty: Medium Question 19 of 20

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