"Opened and Avowed Rebellion"

I'm a couple of days late on this one. Apologies.

On August 23rd, 250 years ago, King George III issued a proclamation declaring the American colonies to be in a state of "open and avowed rebellion.“ 

With this proclamation, King George authorized the use of force to suppress the rebellion.

And what of the Olive Branch Petition, which we mentioned last month? American delegates delivered a copy to the colonial secretary on August 21st followed by the original on September 1. But King George refused to receive it. He already decided that there could be no compromise.

Three Big Things

1. Escalating Events - The proclamation escalated hostilities between the British government and the colonists. It closed the door to negotiations. Instead, both sides would prepare for war.
2. Blame Shifts to the King - The colonists shifted blame to the king. Until now, they saw Parliament as the agitator. But now, more colonists blamed the king himself. Loyalty to the Crown began to unravel, and support for independence grew.
3. Divided Colonies - The proclamation deepened divisions—not just between Britain and the colonies, but within the colonies themselves. Some colonists remained loyal to the King. These Tories found themselves at odds with their rebellious neighbors. Tensions rose, and in some places, violence broke out. The path to independence was not only against Britain—it was also a struggle among Americans.