Rejection of The Olive Branch Petition
In May 1775, the Second Continental Congress met, and most members supported John Dickinson in his efforts to reconcile with King George. A small minority of delegates led by John Adams, on the other hand, thought that war was unavoidable and that the best course of action was to keep silent and wait for the right moment to mobilize the people. As a result, Dickinson and his followers were free to pursue their path of reconciliation. The Second Continental Congress passed the Rejection of The Olive Branch Petition on July 5, 1775, and it was signed on July 8, 1775, as a final attempt to prevent war between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies in America.
56 delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies convened in Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from September 5 to October 26, 1774, to discuss the Intolerable Acts. As a result of this, the First Continental Congress was established. Following significant deliberation, the colonies voted to boycott all British products beginning December 1, 1774, unless the Intolerable Acts were repealed by the British parliament. It was also decided that if their demand was not granted, after September 10, 1775, all shipments from the colonies to the United Kingdom would be halted. The First Continental Congress also addressed a petition to King George III, explaining the colonies' problems and requesting that the Intolerable Acts be repealed.
The colonies were still prepared to reconcile with Britain, according to the appeal to the King. However, it was ignored, and Massachusetts was declared a state of insurrection in February 1775. The American Revolutionary War officially began on April 19, 1775, with the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Olive Branch Petition, which declared American patriotism to Great Britain and begged King George III to postpone further warfare, was one last attempt by the colonies to avoid war with Britain. Instead, King George III issued a Proclamation of Revolt, declaring the colonies to be "in rebellion" and Congress members to be traitors.
