By the summer of 1775, fighting had begun between British troops and colonial militias, but many American leaders still hoped to avoid a full war. When the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, it created the Olive Branch Petition to ask King George III for peace.
The petition was written mostly by John Dickinson, with help from leaders like Benjamin Franklin and John Jay. It said the colonies were loyal to the king and wanted to fix their problems with Parliament, not start a new country. Congress signed the letter on July 8, 1775, and sent it to England.
The king refused to read the petition. Instead, he issued a Proclamation of Rebellion, declaring that the colonies were in open revolt. Later, Parliament passed a law to block all trade with the colonies.
The rejection of the Olive Branch Petition changed everything. Many colonists realized that peace with Britain was no longer possible. Support for independence began to grow.
