Lord Dunmore's Proclamation

. The proclamation granted freedom to any slave who abandoned their master and fought for the British.

. He essentially frees his enemy's slaves for declaring their loyalty to the British

In 1775, British governor Lord Dunmore issued a proclamation in response to news that the colonists were raising troops to fight the British.

. The proclamation granted freedom to any slave who abandoned their master and fought for the British.

Lord Dunmore's Proclamation

In 1775, British governor Lord Dunmore issued a proclamation in response to news that the colonists were raising troops to fight the British.

Lord Dunmore's initial objective was to discourage the rebellion but the decision ended up being a counterproductive move.

It backfired because the proclamation did not discourage rebellion but further angered many white wealthy Patriots because it reflected an assault on their rights as property owners: the fact that by offering freedom to slaves, the British were depriving them of their enslaved property.

The proclamation led to creation of the Ethiopian regiment - a British colonial military unit made up of over 5,000 Black loyalists to fight the colonists.

Lord Dunmore's initial objective was to discourage the rebellion but the decision ended up being a counterproductive move.

It backfired because the proclamation did not discourage rebellion but further angered many white wealthy Patriots because it reflected an assault on their rights as property owners: the fact that by offering freedom to slaves, the British were depriving them of their enslaved property.

This caused increased resentment against the British rather than serving as a deterrent to resistance.

This caused increased resentment against the British rather than serving as a deterrent to resistance.

Ultimately Dunmore's Proclamation was a turning point in relations with plantation colonies of the South and further raised passion for American independence.