The Olive Branch Petition

The Olive Branch Petition, written in the early days of the American Revolutionary War, was a letter to King George III from members of the Second Continental Congress who—for the final time—appealed to their king to readdress colonial grievances in order to avoid more bloodshed. Olive Branch petition This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Olive Branch petition This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, The Netherlands, Spain, American Indians Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Canadian Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the... George III (George William Frederick) (4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. ... The Second Continental Congress was a body of representatives appointed by the legislatures of several British North American colonies which met from May 10, 1775, to March 1, 1781. ...

When the Congress convened in May 1775, the delegates were deeply divided over how to deal with the ongoing crisis with Great Britain. The first shots of the war had already been fired at Lexington and Concord; hostilities continued in June at Bunker Hill while the Congress was in session. Moderates in the Congress, led by John Dickinson, still believed that King George might intercede on their behalf in order to prevent further escalation of the war. Despite the vehement objections of more radical delegates (particularly those from New England, where the fighting had occurred), the petition was adopted on 5 July and sent to the king on 8 July 1775. 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-men committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress The American Revolution was a political movement during the last half of the 18th century that resulted in the creation of... The Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 was the first battle of the American Revolutionary War and was described as the shot heard round the world in Emersons Concord Hymn. ... Combatants Kingdom of Great Britain Province of Massachusetts Bay Commanders William Howe Robert Pigot Henry Clinton Israel Putnam William Prescott Joseph Warren† (Declined command) Strength 2,600 1,500 Casualties 226 dead 828 wounded 140 dead 271 wounded 30 captured (20 POWs Died) The Battle of Bunker Hill took place... John Dickinson (November 8, 1732 – February 14, 1808) was an American lawyer and politician from Jones Neck in St. ... The states marked in red show New England. ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

In the petition, written by Dickinson, the delegates insisted that their motives were to stop "the further effusion of blood" and to avert "the impending calamities that threaten the British Empire." The document expressed continuing loyalty to the king, and implored him to essentially agree to a cease-fire until colonial problems with the "Mother Country" could be amicably settled. The petition reached London on 14 August 1775, but not only did King George refuse to read it, he refused to even recognize the Second Continental Congress's existence. The Crown had decided to teach the rebellious colonies—who had recently gone so far as to capture Fort Ticonderoga—a lesson. London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Vermont Connecticut Great Britain Commanders Ethan Allen Benedict Arnold William Delaplace Strength 83 48 Casualties None 48 captured The capture of Fort Ticonderoga was an event early in the American Revolutionary War. ...