The Sons of Treason Act

Purpose

The Sons of Treason Act was passed immediately after the War of Treason, in order to quell the rebellion. It places restrictions on the descendants of those who fought against the Empire, and places further regulations on businesses, schools, and other establishments in the New England colonies.

Document Structure

Clauses

There are six clauses, detailing the restrictions placed on first-generation rebels, second-generation descendants, third-generation descendants, descendents plus ultra, New England businesses, and treasonists.

References

The Declaration of Treason is referenced in this as the cause of all the suffering detailed in this document.

Publication Status

The document is publicly available. In most colonies, it is displayed in court houses and town halls. In New England, the Sons of Treason Act is displayed in every school, business, government building, post office, ships port, and airship port. The government wants it to be public, to encourage people to follow it or to rat out those who don't.

Legal status

The document is valid in any territory underneath the British Empire. If the territory is ruled by the Empress, it is susceptible to treason.

Historical Details

Background

This document marks the oppression of the colonies under British rule, and demonstrates the consequences for declaring war. It directly follows the The War of Treason

History

The War of Treason

Public Reaction

The public was understandably angry, especially after the identified rebels were executed. It stopped many from operating their businesses, finding work, owning homes, and raising a family.

Legacy

It is a document of much contempt in the colonies. In the British Isles, it has little effect on the citizens, but in the colonies, especially New England, it greatly harms those living there. It is even worse for those who are not of European descent, as they are already discriminated against. For many it is hard to earn a livelihood with the restrictions on business and trade.

Read the Document

The Sons of Treason Act

Prelude

On this day in the year of our Lord MDCCLXXIX, we the undersigned, members of the Parliament of the British Empire, do set and ordain limitations upon those who have declared treason upon our illustrious Empire, and their sons, and their sons after them, and henceforth plus ultra. This document does set forth the repercussions of the heinous crime of treason, and does establish the safeguards to prevent further rebellion, for the safety and harmony of the Empire.

To those who participated in TREASON, both actively and passively:

Every man or woman involved in the rebellion must swear an oath of loyalty to the Empire, the Empress, and the Church; Any man or woman found with slanderous propaganda against the Empire, against the Empress, against the policies of the Government of the Empire, or against any official of the British Empire will have any license of work or business revoked, and will be sentenced to custody in a penitentiary in the British Isles; Any man or woman found to have supplied arms, ammunition, medical supplies, food, water, shelter, uniforms, or other provisions to radicals fighting against the Empire will be regarded as a radical themselves, and executed in a manner befitting TREASON; Any man or woman carrying a firearm or concealed weapon of lethal capability will have it confiscated, license of work or business revoked and sentenced to custody in a penitentiary in the British Isles; Any man or woman accused of a crime against the Empire will be assumed to be guilty until proven innocent; No man or woman born into the Sovereign colonies of New England between the Year of Our Lord MDCCLXXV and the Year of Our Lord MDCCXC may enlist or be drafted into military service against the Empire in a conflict against an external or internal force; No man or woman born into the Sovereign colonies of New England between the Year of Our Lord MDCCLXXV and the Year of Our Lord MDCCXC may hold a governmental office higher than a position on a town council; No man or woman born into the Sovereign colonies of New England may hold a position of educational teaching to any child, regardless of guardianship or previous relations with the child.

To the Sons and Daughters of TREASONOUS individuals;

Every immediate descendant of those involved in the rebellion must be educated in an Imperial school located in the British Empire; Every immediate descendant of those involved in the rebellion must swear an oath of loyalty to the Empire, the Empress, and the Church upon the age of citizenship; Any immediate descendant of those involved in the rebellion found to possess propaganda against the Empire, or teaching in a manner demeaning the Empire or its values will have any and all licenses of employment revoked, and may be sentenced to custody in an Imperial penitentiary; Any immediate descendant of those involved in the rebellion discovered in possession of a firearm, licensed or unlicensed, or any other unlicensed lethal weapon may have any and all licenses of employment revoked, and may be sentenced to custody in an Imperial penitentiary; No immediate descendant of those involved in the rebellion may freely enlist in the Imperial military against internal or external conflicts, nor shall they be drafted into the Imperial military against internal conflicts; No immediate descendant of those involved in the rebellion may hold a governmental office higher than that of local legislature; No immediate descendant of those involved in the rebellion may privately teach students of any age, unless authorized by an Imperial establishment.

To the descendants further beyond:

Every descendant of those involved in the rebellion must be educated at an establishment owned and operated by an Imperial instructor; Every descendant of those involved in the rebellion must swear an oath of loyalty to the Empire, the Empress, and the Church upon the age of citizenship; Any descendant of those involved in the rebellion found to possess propaganda against the Empire, or teaching in a manner demeaning the Empire or its values may have any and all licenses of employment revoked; Any descendant of those involved in the rebellion discovered in possession of a firearm, licensed or unlicensed, or any other unlicensed lethal weapon may have any and all licenses of employment revoked, and may be sentenced to custody in an Imperial penitentiary; Any descendant of those involved in the rebellion may enlist or be drafted into the Imperial military; No descendant of those involved in the rebellion may hold a governmental office higher than that of a provincial position;

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Type

Decree, Governmental

Medium

Paper

Authoring Date

1779

Ratification Date

1780

Expiration Date

None