| | The term "olive branch" is also associated with American history, specifically a final attempt by the [[Second Continental Congress]] to avoid outright warfare with Britain. After [[Lexington and Concord]] in April of 1775, the Congress had divided into two camps - a first camp, led by [[John Dickinson]], favored avoiding war at all costs; a second minority camp, led by [[John Adams]], believed that at this point, war was inevitable. Eventually, it was decided to send a final petition to the King. [[Thomas Jefferson]] was originally drafted to write it, but the final version was actually written by Dickinson. The petition expressed the colonists' desire not to become independent, but expressed their displeasure with the colonial governors and argued for a re-negotiation in trading rights and tax regulations. | | The term "olive branch" is also associated with American history, specifically a final attempt by the [[Second Continental Congress]] to avoid outright warfare with Britain. After [[Lexington and Concord]] in April of 1775, the Congress had divided into two camps - a first camp, led by [[John Dickinson]], favored avoiding war at all costs; a second minority camp, led by [[John Adams]], believed that at this point, war was inevitable. Eventually, it was decided to send a final petition to the King. [[Thomas Jefferson]] was originally drafted to write it, but the final version was actually written by Dickinson. The petition expressed the colonists' desire not to become independent, but expressed their displeasure with the colonial governors and argued for a re-negotiation in trading rights and tax regulations. |