The Proclamation of Rebellion, formally titled “By the King, A Proclamation, For Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition,” was issued by King George III on August 23, 1775. It came after the Continental Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition as a final appeal for peace and reconciliation. Rather than opening negotiations, the king declared that the American colonies were in “open and avowed Rebellion.” That made the proclamation one of the clearest breaking points on the road to the Declaration of Independence.
This document matters because it shows how the Crown chose to answer the colonies’ last major plea for peace. The king’s position was no longer that this was just a dispute within the empire. The proclamation treated colonial resistance as rebellion and called on royal officers and loyal subjects to help suppress it.
Full Text of the Proclamation of Rebellion
GEORGE R.
By the King, A Proclamation, For Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition
WHEREAS Many of Our Subjects in divers Parts of Our Colonies and Plantations in North America, misled by dangerous and ill-designing Men, and forgetting the Allegiance which they owe to the Power that has protected and sustained them, after various disorderly Acts committed in Disturbance of the Public Peace, to the Obstruction of lawful Commerce, and to the Oppression of Our loyal Subjects carrying on the same, have at length proceeded to an open and avowed Rebellion, by arraying themselves in hostile Manner to withstand the Execution of the Law, and traitoroursly preparing, ordering, and levying War against Us.
AND whereas there is Reason to apprehend that such Rebellion hath been much promoted and encouraged by the traitorous Correspondence, Counsels, and Comfort of divers wicked and desperate Persons 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 issue this Our Royal Proclamation, hereby declaring that not only all Our Officers, Civil and Military, are obliged to exert their utmost Endeavours to suppress such Rebellion, and to bring the Traitors to Justice; but that all Our Subjects of this Realm and the Dominions thereunto belonging are bound by Law to be aiding and assisting in the Suppression of such Rebellion, and to disclose and make known all traitorous Conspiracies and Attempts against Us, Our Crown and Dignity.
AND We do accordingly strictly Charge and Command all Our Officers, as well Civil as Military, and all other Our obedient and loyal Subjects, to use their utmost Endeavours to withstand and suppress such Rebellion, and to disclose and make known all Treasons and traitorous Conspiracies which they shall know to be against Us, Our Crown and Dignity: and for that Purpose, that they transmit to one of Our Principal Secretaries of State, or other proper Officer, due and full Information of all Persons who shall be found carrying on Correspondence wit, or in any Manner or Degree aiding or abetting, the Persons now in open Arms and Rebellion against Our Government within any of Our Colonies and Plantations in North America, in order to bring to condign Punishment the Authors, Perpetrators, and Abettors of such traitorous Designs.
Given at Our Court at St. James‘s, the 23d Day of August, 1775, in the Fifteenth Year of Our Reign.
God Save the King.
Why This Document Matters
The proclamation is important because it helps explain why many colonists concluded that reconciliation was collapsing. Congress had sent the Olive Branch Petition hoping the king might intervene for peace. Instead, the Crown publicly declared the colonies to be in rebellion. That hardened the conflict and helped push opinion toward independence in 1776.
Related Links
- Olive Branch Petition
- King George III’s Response to the Olive Branch Petition
- Declaration of Independence
- John Dickinson
- Delegates Who Did Not Sign the Declaration of Independence