The Olive Branch Petition Analysis

The Congress approved the Olive Branch Petition, a final appeal to the king to reconcile with

the colonies. Most American delegates were still loyal to King George III and pleaded with him

to resolve the issues peacefully. The king refused and even hired Hessian mercenaries ( paid

soldiers from Germany) to control the colonists. Cries of independence grew stronger and

some of the members of Congress were wanted for treason. With a peaceful solution not

hopeful in the near future, it was inevitable that a declaration of independence would be adopted

in the summer of 1776. John Dickinson wrote the Olive Branch Petition. The Olive Branch

Petition was wrote because “John Dickinson drafted the Olive Branch Petition, which was

adopted
by the Second Continental Congress on July 8, 1775. It was an attempt to assert

the rights of the Colonists while maintaining their loyalty to the British crown. The Olive

Branch Petition was signed by representatives of Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New

Jersey, North Carolina and South Carolina on July 8th, 1775 and presented to KIng

George lll.