Following the outbreak of armed conflict at Lexington and Concord in the spring of 1775, King George III of England issued this proclamation on August 23, 1775. It stated that the colonies stood in open rebellion to his authority and were subject to severe penalty, as was any British subject who failed to report the knowledge of rebellion or conspiracy. This document transformed loyal subjects into traitorous rebels.
Several months later, the Continental Congress responded by publishing a broadside, which stated that while the colonies had always been loyal to the King, Parliament had no legitimate claim to authority because of the colonies’ lack of representation in Parliament.
