As enacted by the Maryland General Assembly in 1777, all persons holding any office of profit or trust, including attorneys at law, and all voters were required to take the oath no later than March 1, 1778.
[3][4] Exceptions were made for Quakers, those already serving in the military, Mennonites, and Dunkers, who were not required to swear allegiance, but instead allowed to declare and affirm.
[2] The oath stated: "I do sware I do not hold myself bound to yield any Allegiance or obedience to the King Of Great Britain his heirs, or successors and that I will be true and faithful to the State of Maryland and will to the utmost of my power, support maintain and defend the Freedom and independence thereof and the Government as now established against all open enemies and secret and traterous Conspiraces and will use my utmost to disclose and make known to the Governor or some one of the Judges or Justices thereof all Tresasons or Treaterous Consperaces, Attempts or Combinations against this State or the Government thereof which may come to my Knowledge.
Free men over the age of 18 that did not take the oath faced many repercussions, including having to pay triple the initially assessed amount of taxes every year in their lifetime, being unable to file lawsuits, hold any political office, vote, serve in the military, practice law, medicine, preach, be a tradesman, or teach at a school.
[10] Eleven of the thirteen original states required signers to renounce their loyalty to the throne of Great Britain and anyone that would succeed King George III.
[9] Being a direct female descendant of a signer of the oath is sufficient condition to join the Daughters of the American Revolution.