Today in History

July 8, 1775

The Olive Branch Petition

One faction of the Second Continental Congress, lead by delegate John Dickinson, wanted to appease King George III. A separate group lead by John Adams, however, was more radical and wanted an immediate declaration of independence and believed war to be inevitable. Dickinson and his followers drafted a petition to King George, outlining a path to peace. The original Olive Branch Petition was drafted by Thomas Jefferson, but Dickenson re-wrote much of it, believing Jefferson’s language too offensive.

Dickenson dispatched the Petition on July 8, 1775. However, the King rejected it, having recently intercepted a letter from John Adams demeaning the Petition and speaking of outright war. The royal rejection of the Olive Branch Petition gave the radical colonists the evidence they needed that war with England was inevitable.

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