Olive Branch Petition Analysis

Along with refusing to sign the Declaration of Independence, he revised the original Olive Branch Petition written by Thomas Jefferson and led the committee that wrote the rough draft for the Articles of Confederation. The Olive Branch petition was written to

It is decided, by a tied vote broken by John Hancock, the congressional president, that the vote must be unanimous. Then, a committee is formed to create a Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson ends up writing it. They present it to the Congress and debate on it for four days, making changes on slavery and other aspects. Finally, the final vote on independence was held. By removing the slavery clause, South and North Carolina were on board, Georgia changed its mind, Maryland was convinced after seeing the army, and Pennsylvania’s John Dickinson left the Congress instead of signing, but unanimity was reached, and the Declaration was

Thomas Paine makes a statement and compares the king to a thief that stole their land. Paine states, “but if a thief breaks into my house, threatens to kill me, or those that are in it, and to “bind me in all cases whatsoever” to his absolute will, am I to suffer it?”(Paine). Trying to persuade people to join the fight, Paine is asking the colonists why they are subjecting their selves to the tyranny of the king; furthermore, Paine is explaining that the colonists have no choice, but to fight or they will forever be under the tyranny of the king. Patrick Henry makes a statement about the petition in his speech that says, “Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received?”(Henry). With his rhetorical question, Patrick Henry is trying to show the colonists that the king did not care for their petition and would not settle for anything. Therefore, Henry would then go on to state why they should declare war on Britain and gain their

By the year 1776, King George III could not have done anything to avoid war, at that point it was inevitable. There was only one possibility “to avert ‘this American storm’[, it] was to reach an accommodation just as soon as possible” (McCullough 17). It was known by both sides, the British and the Americans, that this could never happen. Neither government would give up their cause in order to stop the war. The Americans were set on gaining their independence from Great Britain and would risk all of their lives in war in order to have it. The British on the other hand would not give up their land that they had in the Americas which

On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry, one of the crucial motivators of the American Revolution, delivers a speech in the Second Virginia Convention regarding gaining independence from Britain. Henry’s diction, allusions and counterarguments aid in his purpose of making the delegates feel the tyrannical rule by the British and believing in going to war with them is the only option in attaining freedom.

As an advocate for colonial unity, John Dickinson was still very opposed to war and violence. In the Pennsylvania State assembly, he outlined an authorization to send delegates to seek rectification of grievances. Dickinson also ordered them to resist severance of the colonies from Britain. Dickinson, a delegate to both continental congresses, started one of the biggest controversies in American history when he refused to sign the Declaration of Independence. Until the vote for

they did not like being taxed by the English and created the Olive Branch Petition. The delegates decided to leave the petition in a tavern, on Wall Street in New York, so colonists could sign it.

Also, they stated that all taxes should be collected internally until the Massachusetts Charter was brought back, and that they should have the ability to defend themselves if a Royal attack takes place. The Olive Branch Petition was also a three clause demand which included peace in Boston, a lifting of the Coercive Acts, and American Rights to be negotiated with Parliament. This was written and established by John Dickinson in his attempt to send a “loyal message” (152) to parliament and King George III.

The petition was originally created by the First Continental Congress to resist any further conflict between Britain and the 13 Colonies. The petition was earliest written by Benjamin Franklin and then Thomas Jefferson, but the language Jefferson used would only enrage the King, so when The Second Continental Congress took up the Petition, John Dickenson rewrote it. Congress passed the sending of the Petition to King George the Third and three days later the petition reached the kings presence. The king would have passed the petition if it weren’t for a letter being confiscated that John Adams wrote to a friend proclaiming his disapproval of the Olive Branch Petition and how the yearning for peace was not authentic. King George the Third received both the petition and the letter and denied the petition. He then proclaimed that the colonies were on a rebellious spree. Even though the petition was opposed, it still played a major part in the years to come for the Colonies to propel in the attempts at American Independence. It became the foundation of the beginning of the Revolutionary War and is the reason that we call ourselves Independent. Not only did it lead to the Revolutionary War, but it also inspired the idea of The Declaration of

The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson in June 1776. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson writes up his list of grievances against King George III of Great Britain and Ireland. Thomas Jefferson tends to exaggerate some of the grievances, but I agree with him on most of his points.

1.They sent a letter to King George III explaining the issues the colonies had with the way they were being treated. They demanded that the King stop the Intolerable Acts or they would boycott English goods. However, the King chose to ignore them and the Americans began the boycott. 2.They made a plan to meet again in May of 1775 if the British did not meet their

In 1776, the American people declared themselves an independent nation. The American people were traumatized by the Revolution and feared a strong central government. This led to their first attempt at a government, the Articles of Confederation, which ultimately failed. After this let down of a government, the founding fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence, which would become the law of the American land. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were two influential individuals, who were originally involved in the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Both were involved in the political side of the Revolutionary war, but when speaking of it, told alternate versions of the war. As they approached the end of their lives, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams dedicated themselves to telling extremely differentiating versions of the Revolutionary War; Jefferson focusing on the glory and Adams focusing on the hardships, while Jefferson’s version is the only one recorded in the textbooks students use today.

In attempt for the Americans to prevent any further deaths, they created the Olive Branch Petition. The Olive Branch Petition was written by John Dickinson, a Pennsylvania delegate. He stated the desire to remain loyal to the British crown, King George III, he asked the king to address the colonists complaints and in return the colonists promised to lay down their weapons when their grievances were addressed. King George III rejected the Olive Branch Petition and declared the colonists in rebellion. Parliament then passed the Prohibitory Act which closed American ports to over seas trade, and allowed the Royal Navy to seize American ships at sea. Many colonists still didn't want to break away from Britain. Officers toasted the king's health, merchants were afraid they would lose money, and people were afraid they would be put to death for rebelling against the crown. Thomas Paine published a pamphlet anonymously the title being, Common Sense. This pamphlet argued reasons for America to break away from Britain. This pamphlet rejected the idea of a monarchy and hereditary aristocracy, promoted the idea of a representative government, and called for unity in the struggle for independence. Also in the pamphlet, Paine argued that a monarchy was dangerous, men were born equal so no family had the right to rule over anyone else, and that Britain had taken advantage of Americans and taxed them unfairly. Paine suggested America think of themselves as a separate nation. He believed it was America's destiny to become independent, wanted American people to hold the power, not a distant monarch, and suggested election processes and establishment of a constitution. Common Sense was popular in the colonies; sold around 120,000 copies in a 3 month period, was also read aloud in public places, changed attitudes of Americans about independence, also helped shape the Declaration of Independence.

“Give me liberty or give me death!” This statement from Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” delivered to the House of Burgesses, has been quoted by many, becoming almost cliché. However, the declaration is truly understood by a select few. The unjust Stamp Act passed by the British crown in 1765, brought fame and notoriety to Henry as he spoke out against the unjust taxation without representation. Ten years later on the eve of revolution, Henry calls upon the Colonial government of which he is part, to act for the betterment of the people. Patrick Henry attempts to persuade the House of Burgesses to revolt and declare war against Britain by logically convincing them that it is their natural right to be free and calling on

Unfortunately, not every American saw the issue as clearly as Franklin. Most were afraid of the consequences to a rebellion against British rule. John Dickinson, put forward the last appeal to England on July 5. It later became known as the Olive Branch Petition, in which Congress called for the King to "come to America's rescue".