The Olive Branch Petition
Our Founding Father’s Last attempt at peace with England (July 5th, 1775).
This past holiday weekend Americans celebrated Independence Day in America which remembers the birth of our nation as the day the Second Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, starting the American Revolution (apparently forgetting a number of earlier events, including Richard Henry Lee’s “Resolution for Independence" that was adopted on July 2nd, but I digress). However, a year prior on July 5th, 1775 our Founding Fathers were still trying to find a peaceful resolution with King George III, even though violent confrontations had already occurred.
On June 24 the first draft of the Olive Branch Petition was presented to the Congress, but was not approved. Though Thomas Jefferson was one of the original writers, and the person chosen to rewrite the petition, it would be John Dickinson of Pennsylvania who wrote the final version. In his final draft he focused on the hardships and rights of the colonists while editing out most of the confrontational language.
Hardly a call to arms, the petition instead declared multiple times that the colonists remained loyal to the crown and they were not seeking independence. Instead they wanted simply to resolve their numerous grievances.
An excerpt from the petition:
"We beg further leave to assure your Majesty that, notwithstanding the sufferings of your loyal Colonists during the course of this present controversy, our Breasts retain too tender a regard for the Kingdom from which we derive our Origin to request such a Reconciliation as might in any manner be inconsistent with her Dignity or her welfare. These, related as we are to her, Honor and Duty as well as inclination induce us to support and advance; and the apprehensions that now oppress our Hearts with unspeakable Grief, being once removed, your Majesty will find your faithful Subjects on this Continent ready and willing at all times, as they have ever been with their lives and fortunes, to assert and maintain the rights and interests of your Majesty and of our mother country."
The petition was hand delivered to England, but King George III refused to receive it. He claimed publicly that the Colonies were already in full rebellion and demanded Parliament act to address it. The battles of Lexington and Concord a few months prior to receiving the petition, along with the Crown's intelligence gathering efforts in the colonies (including the interception of a letter from John Adams about arms caches around the same time), were the most likely reasons for his refusal.
As word of the King’s refusal to even receive the Olive Branch Petition spread throughout the Colonies it became one of the greatest causes of the American Revolution as that act made it clear the Crown had no interest in addressing any of the issues the colonists faced under Great Britain’s rule. This refusal featured prominently in the commentary of the time, including Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, and would sway many colonists to rebellion who, up to that point, had still wanted to remain loyal to England.
While the House of Commons did take up the petition, a vote to consider reconciliation with the colonies failed. This fact wasn’t part of the discourse of the day as it was lost to the focus on the King’s arrogant and inflammatory refusal to even receive the petition.
While Americans rightfully look back at the revolution with pride and patriotism we should also remember that most of our Founding Fathers began with efforts seeking resolution, not rebellion.
You can learn more about the Olive Branch Petition from the History Channel, and you can see the full text of the petition (PDF), hosted by americainclass.org.
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