The Olive Branch Petition: American Revolution

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Recommended: Aftermath of the American Revolution

Celine Molfetta
Ms.Velazquez
U.S. History 1
20 February 2014
Olive Branch Petition

The Olive Branch Petition, drafted on July 5th, 1775 by John Dickenson, was, not only, a major turn point in the movement of the American Revolution, but marked a very important point in American History. During the creation process of the Olive Branch Petition, the Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill had just taken place. Members within the Continental Congress had opposing views on what approach they should take to dissolve the tension between the colonies and Great Britain. Some strived for Independence no matter the consequences, while others disagreed. These others were Loyalist who didn’t agree with the idea of betraying the …show more content…

The Olive Branch Petition was the last and final opportunity for Great Britain to agree with a nonviolent negotiation with the Colonists (lively). In more detail, the Olive Branch Petition summarized that the colonists requested to have their own self ran government, but made it clear that they would show loyalty to their “mother country”. As history reveals, King George III rejected their compromise, resulting in the American Colonies having no other choice, but to go to war with Great Britain. The American Colonies were so determined to gain freedom from the English parliamentary authority, specifically the taxation laws (Sosin). With the Olive Branch Petition not being successful, the American Revolutionary War was bound to happen, due to the negative response from Great Britain confirming that there wasn’t any other tactics the Colonists could take, other than …show more content…

The petition happened to be delivered to the King after both the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill had just previously concluded. The king was in a state of infuriation and was enraged with the thought of the colonies rebelling. His anger and disapproving attitude towards the rebellious colonies blinded him to see what the Colonist were truly imposing in their petition by refusing to even open the petition (Lively). John Adams, who opposed the Olive Branch Petition, sent a letter to the King noting his opinion on the Olive Branch Petition. John Adam concluded that he had a strong opinion that the Olive Branch Petition doesn’t have any significant purpose and that war was unavoidable. This letter, unfortunately, was read by the King and confirmed his views on it, as well. King George III took advantage of John Adam’s writing to demonstrate that the colonist were not being insincere, nor convincing in their attempts for a tranquil, respectable negotiation, also known as, the Olive Branch

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