The Olive Branch Petition

On this day 250 years ago, the Second Continental Congress approved the Olive Branch petition.

A fanciful AI imagining.
It did not really happen this way, as we shall see.

Addressed to King George the Third, the petition sought to avert further hostilities. In it, the colonists expressed their loyalty to the king. Yet they affirmed that they had grievances with some of Parliament’s actions. They asked the king to intervene, with the goal of ending conflict and resolving the issues peacefully. The tone of the petition was conciliatory, asking the king to mediate between the colonies and Parliament.

You can imagine how King George took the petition. But we’ll talk about that next time.

Three Big Things

Let’s look at 3 big things about the Olive Branch Petition

1. Hope for Peace - Despite the battles at Lexington-Concord and Bunker Hill, most colonists still hoped for peace. Therefore, they were willing to seek diplomatic solutions to their grievances.
2. Problem with Parliament - The colonists primarily blamed Parliament for those grievances. They claimed that it had usurped authority that properly belonged to the colonial legislatures. Thus, they hoped that the king would step in and redress their issues. That’s why they still considered themselves loyal subjects of the king.
3. John Dickinson - John Dickinson, no relation to the state park, was the primary author of the petition. He was a steadfast proponent of reconciliation with Britain. Like many other Americans, he had to wrestle with conflicting loyalties as independence loomed nearer. He refused to sign the Declaration of Independence but still served as a militia officer for Pennsylvania.

And there you have it – America 250 years ago. Stay tuned for more updates leading to America’s 250th birthday.