I study the Declaration of Independence, and here’s why the colonists’ grievances are surprisingly relevant, 250 years later

The colonists' complaints listed in the Declaration of Independence are still relevant 250 years later. toddtaulman/iStock via Getty Images

The Declaration of Independence, with its block of cursive letters scrawled onto parchment, looks like a relic from the distant past. Likewise, you might think the 27 grievances against King George III, his government and the British people listed in the body of the document would have little relevance to our lives today.

After all, what could the specific complaints of colonists in 1776 have to do with 2026? The parts of the declaration worth knowing about are the soaring sentences in the opening paragraphs about self-evident truths, pursuing happiness and all men being created equal. Right?