OliveBranchPetition

﻿ Olive Branch Petition  ﻿ Olive Branch Petition was American colonies last attempt to stabilize the relations with Britain, persuade King George to repeal acts previously passed by Parliament and avoid Revolutionary War. The Olive Branch Petition made three main, politely written demands; for Britain terminate its attacks upon Boston, abolish the Coercive Acts, and finally conciliate upon American rights. Olive Branch Petition has been called different names over the years, but the most famous of them still remain the same; The Second Petition To The King and The Humble Petition. The Olive Branch Petition was signed by the representatives of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina on July 8 of 1775 and was presented to King George III. The petition was signed by 48 members of Continental Congress among who were John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Stephen Hopkins. The fact that caused the British to perceive mixed messages from the Olive Branch Petition is the initiation of "American Continental Army" by the same delegates who wrote the petition. At the begining, the majority of people wanted a peaceful reconciliation with the Parliament. Even John Adams stated that he was "fond of reconciliation, if we could reasonably entertain hopes of it on a constitutional basis." However, upon receiving news of the skirmish at Bunker and Breed's Hill, reconciliation was the last thing the British had in mind. When a resolution to write a petition was formed on June 3rd, 1775 the Second Continental Congress created a committee which was responsible for drafting. First representation of a letter was performed on June 24 same year and was appealed by the members of the Congress, However reconsidering the matter to form another proposal, Congress added Thomass Jefferson and John Dickson to the committee. Finally when the letter was created in was entrusted to Richard Penn of Pennsylvania who left America on July 14 and exactly in a month reached London where he dilevered a letter to Arthur Lee, who was an agent in England for Massachussetts Colony. Finally on September 1, the response came that King George refused to read the letter, so Richard Penn sent a short message back to Continental Congress: **"On the 21st of last month, we sent to the Secretary of State for America, a copy of the Petition from the general Congress; and yesterday, the first moment that was permitted us, we presented to him the Original, which his lordship promised to deliver to his Majesty.** [] [] Additional Information: [] [] Nikita K.
 * We thought it our duty to press his Lordship to obtain an answer; but we were told that his Majesty did not receive it on the throne, no answer would be given.**
 * your most faithful Servants**
 * Richard Penn**
 * Arthur Lee"**  To Go Back To The Home Page Click Here   To Go Back To The Section Page Click Here  References: