Jefferson blamed Britain, through King George III, for “exciting” or encouraging Native Americans on the frontier to attack the colonists. In the Declaration, he framed this as the king having “endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages.”

What that meant

  • He was accusing the British crown of stirring up frontier violence.
  • The line reflects the war-era fear of Native attacks on colonial settlements.
  • It also shows the harsh and racist language Jefferson used in the Declaration.

Important nuance

Jefferson was not saying Britain alone controlled Native nations. The complaint was a political accusation that Britain had supported or encouraged frontier conflict, especially during the Revolutionary period.

Short version

He blamed England for using or encouraging Native Americans against the colonies on the frontier.