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King George's Rebellion Proclamation - August 23, 1775
King George officially declared the American
colonies to be in
rebellion on August 23, 1775. This was a slap in the face to Americans
who had just sent him a petition of peace, known as the Olive Branch
Petition. This petition assured the king that the Americans remained
his loyal subjects and had no desire for independence, as long as their
grievances were satisfactorily addressed. The American representatives
Richard Penn and Arthur Lee presented the petition to the Secretary of
State for the American colonies, Lord Dartmouth. It was two days later
that King George issued his proclamation. This is one of the actions
that persuaded many wavering American colonists that the king was
actively seeking to destroy their God-given rights and led to their
Declaration of Independence the next year.
King George's Rebellion Proclamation:"Whereas many of our ƒubjects in divers parts of our Colonies and Plantations in North America, miƒled by dangerous and ill deƒigning men, and forgetting the allegiance which they owe to the power that has protected and ƒupported them; after various diƒorderly acts committed in diƒturbance of the publick peace, to the obƒtruction of lawful commerce, and to the oppreƒsion of our loyal ƒubjects carrying on the ƒame; have at length proceeded to open and avowed rebellion, by arraying themƒelves in a hoƒtile manner, to withƒtand the execution of the law, and traitorouƒly preparing, ordering and levying war againƒt us: And whereas, there is reaƒon to apprehend that ƒuch rebellion hath been much promoted and encouraged by the traitorous correƒpondence, counƒels and comfort of divers wicked and deƒperate perƒons within this realm: To the end therefore, that none of our subjects may neglect or violate their duty through ignorance thereof, or through any doubt of the protection which the law will afford to their loyalty and zeal, we have thought fit, by and with the advice of our Privy Council, to iƒsue our Royal Proclamation, hereby declaring, that not only all our Officers, civil and military, are obliged to exert their utmoƒt endeavors to ƒuppreƒs ƒuch rebellion, and to bring the traitors to juƒtice, but that all our ƒubjects of this Realm, and the dominions thereunto belonging, are bound by law to be aiding and aƒsiƒting in the ƒuppreƒsion of ƒuch rebellion, and to diƒclose and make known all traitorous conƒpiracies and attempts againƒt us, our crown and dignity; and we do accordingly ƒtrictl charge and command all our Officers, as well civil as military, and all others our obedient and loyal ƒubjects, to uƒe their utmoƒt endeavors to withƒtand and ƒuppreƒs ƒuch rebellion, and to diƒclose and make known all treaƒons and traitorous conƒpiracies which they ƒhall know to be againƒt us, our crown and dignity; and for that purpoƒe, that they tranƒmit to one of our principal Secretaries of State, or other proper officer, due and full information of all perƒons who ƒhall be found carrying on correƒpondence with, or in any manner or degree aiding or abetting the perƒons now in open arms and rebellion againƒt our Government, within any of our Colonies and Plantations in North America, in order to bring to condign puniƒhment the authors, perpetrators, and abetters of ƒuch traitorous deƒigns.Given at our Court at St. James's the twenty-third day of Auguƒt, one thouƒand ƒeven hundred and ƒeventy-five, in the fifteenth year of our reign. God ƒave the King.
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