Olive+Branch+Petition



The Olive Branch Petition was adopted by the Continental Congress in July 1775 in an attempt to avoid a full-blown war with Great Britain. The petition affirmed American loyalty to Great Britain and entreated the king to prevent further conflict. The petition was rejected, and in August 1775, the colonies were formally declared in rebellion by the Proclamation of Rebellion.







The Olive Branch Petition was first drafted by Thomas Jefferson, but was rewritten by John Dickinson because he found Jefferson's language in the first copy to offensive. The petition was taken to the king, but was denied. [|Response of the King]

Do to King George III denying the petition the Revolutianary war continued



__Timeline__

[|Extended Timeline]
 * **February 9:Parliament declares a state of rebellion in the colonies.**
 * **March 23:Patrick Henry delivers his famous “Liberty or Death” speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses.**
 * **April 18:Paul Revere makes his famous ride to alert the minutemen that the British are coming**
 * **April 19:Open hostilities commence in the colonies at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts; the siege of Boston begins.**
 * **May 10:The Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia.**
 * **June 15:George Washington is appointed the military leader of the Continental forces.**
 * **June 17:The British are victorious at the Battle of Bunker Hill, but suffer heavy casualties.**
 * **July 5:The Continental Congress adopts the Olive Branch Petition.**
 * **August 23:King George III issues his**
 * **November 17:Royal Governor Dunmore of Virginia forms a regiment of former slaves to fight for the British by promising them freedom after their service.**