Tyranny

I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.
~Thomas Jefferson to Dr Benjamin Rush 9/23/1800

Jefferson offers this radical statement in support of his new country. Yet to be acknowledged by England with ongoing hostility on both sides of the Atlantic, this new country had had two Presidents. This letter written in September 1800, was not long before he took the office of President.

For a period of time, England neglected the American colony allowing the colonists to form a sense of collective self.

The colonists alleged that King George of England and Parliament abused their power by enacting import taxes and other trade & commodity taxation totaling about 4% of all economic exchange. England believed they were within their rights to tax their colonies.

When England reintroduced authority by way of military force to enforce the laws, they offended the colonists. Colonists hadn’t agreed to taxation or to the treatment to which they were being subjected.

What a radical step from subject to independent people.