J. Jackson Owensby brings the United States Declaration of Independence into the 21st Century. Behind the actual Declaration itself lay years of planning, fighting, debate, arguments and differences between neighbors, between families and between husbands and wives. The British Government headed by King George III continued to enact punitive legislation against the American colonists, despite their pleas for leniency and relief. Act after punitive act, tax after burdensome tax. Taxes imposed in violation of the British Constitution itself. Finally the load became too much to bear and the yoke around their necks began to chafe. The colonists had had enough. It was time to tell King George III and it was time to tell the world.
“WHEN, IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS, IT BECOMES NECESSARY FOR ONE PEOPLE TO DISSOLVE THE POLITICAL BANDS WHICH HAVE CONNECTED THEM WITH ANOTHER, AND TO ASSUME AMONG THE POWERS OF THE EARTH THE SEPARATE AND EQUAL STATION TO WHICH THE LAWS OF NATURE AND NATURE’S GOD ENTITLES THEM, A DECENT
RESPECT TO THE OPINION OF MANKIND REQUIRE THAT THEY SHOULD DECLARE THE CAUSES WHICH IMPEL THEM TO THE
SEPARATION.”
With these words, thirteen disorganized, fragmented, disagreeing, arguing, feuding and fussing colonies prepared to take on the greatest military power of the time. And they changed the world.
