Final answer:
Grievances in the historical context such as those leading to American independence are direct responses to specific British actions that violated colonial expectations of rights and governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
A grievance in the historical context is a direct response to a specific British action when it explicitly cites the action that led to the complaint being made. This is evident through historical documents where the American colonies expressed their dissatisfaction with British policies. For example, the colonies presented lists of grievances to the British government, detailing specific actions taken by the British that they found objectionable, such as the enforcement of the 'Intolerable' Acts post the Boston Tea Party, demands for fair trials not being met with due to the Admiralty Courts, and the forcible quartering of British troops in American homes. Particularly in the Declaration of American Rights, the colonists outlined their grievances, including issues like taxation without representation and the maintenance of a standing army in peacetime. These grievances served as a foundation for the eventual push towards independence, which was officially declared in the Declaration of Independence.