The Olive Branch Petition
What is the Olive Branch Petition and how did it come about? Many Americans did not want to break away forever from Great Britain. Many were angry
with British policies and treatment, but they thought that an agreement could somehow be reached with the King that would right the wrongs done to
them. Declaring independence was a hope of some of the patriots, but not of most. Even when the Second Continental Congress met for the first time in
May 1775, the majority was not yet ready to declare independence.
There was a small group of delegates, including John Adams, who were ready to declare independence at this time, but the more moderate voices
prevailed. The moderate faction was led by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, probably the most conservative and loyal member of Congress. The radical
faction decided it was wiser at this time to let the moderates have their way because they believed war with Britain was inevitable. They would wait until
events persuaded more moderates to join their side.
The Congress decided to send a last appeal to King George III asking him to intervene in their behalf. The First Continental Congress and many of the
individual colonies had sent numerous appeals to the Parliament and to the King, none of which had persuaded them to change their treatment of the
Americans. Still hoping that they could avoid the Revolutionary War, they sent one last letter to the King.
The Americans hoped that King George III was not fully aware of how the Parliament had been treating the Americans. So they sent the letter directly to
the King, detailing the abuses they had received from Parliament and from local British officials. They couched their letter in terms that placed all the guilt
with Parliament and British officials such as the Royal Governors. They did this so as not to offend the king and in hopes that he, being unaware of the
treatment, would come to their defense.
The Olive Branch Petition
On June 3rd, 1775, the Congress passed a resolution forming a committee to draft a letter to the King. The members of this committee were Benjamin
Franklin, Thomas Johnson, John Rutledge, John Jay and William Livingston. This committee presented its letter to the Committee of the Whole (the
whole Congress) on June 24, but it was not approved. Instead, on July 6th the Congress reconsidered the matter and sent the committee back to form
another proposal, adding John Dickinson and Thomas Jefferson to the committee.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft, but John Dickinson, especially, thought the draft was too harsh and would only anger the king. So he was given
permission to make alterations to Jefferson's draft. On July 8th Dickinson's version was presented to Congress and approved, but not unanimously. This
letter has come to be known as the Olive Branch Petition, because it extended an offer of reconciliation to the King. The Olive Branch is of course a
symbol of peace. It has also been called the "Humble Petition" and the "Second Petition to the King."
The letter affirmed the loyalty of the colonists to the King and assured him that they did not seek independence, only redress of their
grievances. Congress' vote in support of Dickinson's draft, which was much more fawning in its tone toward the king, showed
Congress' willingness to give those who held Dickinson's views one last chance at reconciliation, though they generally didn't believe
it would work.
The Olive Branch petition was signed by 48 members of Congress and entrusted to Richard Penn of Pennsylvania, a descendant of
William Penn, the founder of the colony. Penn left America on July 14th and arrived in London on August 14th. He delivered the
letter to Arthur Lee, who was the Agent in England for the Massachusetts Colony.
King George's Response to the Olive Branch Petition
On August 21st, Penn and Lee presented a copy of the letter to Lord Dartmouth, who was the Secretary of State for the American colonies. Lord Dartmouth
tried to present the letter to the King, but he would not receive it.
The day Congress approved the Olive Branch Petition, July 8, John Adams, in disgust, had written two letters, one to his wife, Abigail and the other to
General James Warren. The letter to General Warren in particular, expressed his disapproval of the petition, and revealed certain war preparations. The
letter was also very critical of John Dickinson. This letter was intercepted by the British and published publicly. So when the King and Parliament were
presented with the Olive Branch Petition, they didn't really take it seriously. The Americans were still preparing for war in spite of this letter.
On August 23, the King published a proclamation declaring that the colonies in America were now in a state of full-scale rebellion. The proclamation also
required that all British subjects anywhere were to assist in putting down the rebellion. This made it an act of treason for any British subject to defend the
American cause in any way.
On September 1st, Richard Penn and Arthur Lee went back to Lord Dartmouth to see if there was a response from the King. He informed them that the
King would not even receive their petition. On September 2nd, Penn and Lee sent this short message to the 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.
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"
On November 7th, the Olive Branch Petition was presented to the House of Commons and a motion was made that they consider this
petition the basis for an effort at reconciliation. The motion was defeated 83-33.
The Americans' Response
The Congress in Philadelphia received the message from Penn and Lee on November 9th, 1775 informing them that the King would not receive their
petition of peace. This was a strong blow to those such as John Dickinson who hoped to avoid war. The radicals began to gain power now as word of
the King's rejection of their peace offer began to spread. Many colonists who had hoped for reconciliation now knew that it was impossible.
After hearing of the King's rejection of the Olive Branch Petition, many colonists were furious. Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, wrote this to her
husband after hearing of the refusal, "Let us separate, they are unworthy to be our Brethren. Let us renounce them and instead of supplications as
formerly for their prosperity and happiness, Let us beseech the almighty to blast their councils and bring to nought all their devices." Her view accurately
reflects the opinions of many at the time.
The colonists began to see the King as openly hostile to them. He was abridging their rights, making various rulings affecting them
without their consent, amassing armies against them and refusing to even receive their petitions. The next spring, Thomas Paine
published his pamphlet called Common Sense that outlined the King's abuses and stated outright that the colonists had a right to throw
off British rule because of its tyrannical ways. Common Sense convinced many colonists that independence and a Revolutionary War
were justified. All of these events set the stage for the Declaration of Independence that would be declared in July 1776, only a few months
later.
Writing an Olive Branch Petition: One Last Chance for Peace
Mrs. Heacock
Imagine you are a member of the 2nd Continental Congress. You have been assigned to a committee to write
a letter to King George III asking him for peace between Britain and the Colonies. Remember that the battles
of Lexington and Concord have already taken place, and that there is much tension between the British
government and the Colonies. With your fellow committee members, write a draft of an Olive Branch Petition
to send to the king.
Your draft should include or mention the following things:
1) The injustices committed against the colonists in the form of taxes, as well as the recent violence.
2) The colonies' desire to be treated fairly and to be represented in Parliament.
3) The Congress' desire for peace between Britain and the Colonies.
4) At least one proposal for an agreement that will make both Britain and the colonists happy.
Good luck. The future of the colonies rests in your hands.
Rubric:
This assignment applies to the History and Culture Standards. Both standards will use the same rubric.
25 (Exemplary) Your petition has no spelling or grammatical errors. It is clearly written and addresses each of
the required topics. It demonstrates knowledge of the revolutionary period and includes or mentions events
from the text book or other sources. The petition is convincing and persuasive.
20 (Accomplished) Your petition has no, or very few, spelling or grammatical errors. It is clearly written and
addresses each of the required topics. It demonstrates knowledge of the revolutionary period and includes or
mentions events from the text book. The petition is convincing and persuasive.
15 (Improving) Your petition has more than two or three spelling or grammatical errors. It may not be clearly
written. It does not demonstrate a complete grasp of the revolutionary period, or does not mention or
include events founds in the textbook. It may not address all of the required topics.
10 (Beginning) There are multiple errors in your petition. It does not include all of the required topics. It does
not demonstrate a knowledge of the revolutionary period, and/or it is not clearly written.