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The [[Second Continental Congress]], convened shortly after the [[Battle of Lexington and Concord]], created a Petition Committee to draft a new petition to the king. Members of the committee included [[John Jay]], [[John Rutledge]], Thomas Johnson, [[Benjamin Franklin]], and the petition's main author, [[John Dickinson]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=if3_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA411 King and Congress: The Transfer of Political Legitimacy, 1774-1776]</ref>  The petition was signed by [[John Hancock]], President of the Continental Congress, and 49 other members<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=RakdAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT61 The Cost of Liberty: The Life of John Dickinson]</ref> and adopted on July 5, 1775.

The [[Second Continental Congress]], convened shortly after the [[Battle of Lexington and Concord]], created a Petition Committee to draft a new petition to the king. Members of the committee included [[John Jay]], [[John Rutledge]], Thomas Johnson, [[Benjamin Franklin]], and the petition's main author, [[John Dickinson]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=if3_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA411 King and Congress: The Transfer of Political Legitimacy, 1774-1776]</ref>  The petition was signed by [[John Hancock]], President of the Continental Congress, and 49 other members<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=RakdAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT61 The Cost of Liberty: The Life of John Dickinson]</ref> and adopted on July 5, 1775.

On the 8th of July, the Congress assembled at Philadelphia to finalize the petition and confide to Richard Penn, governor of Pennsylvania, and Arthur Lee, a Diplomat, to deliver the petition to the king.<ref>[http://archives.nypl.org/mss/22996 Richard Penn and Arthur Lee letters regarding the Olive Branch Petition]</ref> It arrived in London on August 14 and was was delivered to lord Dartmouth on the 1st of September.<ref name=knight>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d30BAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA612|title=Charles Knight's school history of England, abridged from the Popular history of England|date=1865}}</ref>

On the 8th of July, the Congress assembled at Philadelphia to finalize the petition and confide to Richard Penn, governor of Pennsylvania to deliver the petition to the king.  It arrived in London on August 14 and was was delivered to lord Dartmouth on the 1st of September.<ref name=knight>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d30BAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA612|title=Charles Knight's school history of England, abridged from the Popular history of England|date=1865}}</ref>

A few days after the Olive Branch was approved and sent to the King, [[John Adams]] penned a letter meant for a close friend which was intercepted.  Adams, who at the time was the leader of a minority of congressmen believed that war with Britain could not be avoided,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HanFAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA226 Founding Political Warfare Documents of the United States]</ref> expressed disgust in his letter at the petition and said that he believed the attempt would fail.  After being intercepted, Adams' letter reached the King before the petition did.<ref>[https://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/john-adams-letter-to-james-warren-july-24-1775.html John Adams letter to James Warren July 24, 1775]</ref>  By the time the Olive Branch was received, it had already been rejected.  The contents of Adams' letter were interpreted to be the true intentions of all of the colonists, and the Olive Branch was merely an act of deception.

A few days after the Olive Branch was approved and sent to the King, [[John Adams]] penned a letter meant for a close friend which was intercepted.  Adams, who at the time was the leader of a minority of congressmen believed that war with Britain could not be avoided,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=HanFAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA226 Founding Political Warfare Documents of the United States]</ref> expressed disgust in his letter at the petition and said that he believed the attempt would fail.  After being intercepted, Adams' letter reached the King before the petition did.<ref>[https://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/john-adams-letter-to-james-warren-july-24-1775.html John Adams letter to James Warren July 24, 1775]</ref>  By the time the Olive Branch was received, it had already been rejected.  The contents of Adams' letter were interpreted to be the true intentions of all of the colonists, and the Olive Branch was merely an act of deception.

==Rejection==

==Rejection==

The king's response to Bunker Hill was to issue the [[Proclamation of Rebellion]], declaring the colonists to be rebels, closing the American ports, and warning foreign nations not to trade.  The ''Olive Branch'' was an attempt to appeal directly to [[King George III]] with the hope for reconciliation between the colonies and Great Britain.<ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-adopts-olive-branch-petition Congress adopts Olive Branch Petition]</ref>  Three days after their arrival in Britain, Penn and his companion, Arthur Lee, were informed by letter that no answer would be given to it.

The king's response to Bunker Hill was to issue the [[Proclamation of Rebellion]], declaring the colonists to be rebels, closing the American ports, and warning foreign nations not to trade.  The ''Olive Branch'' was an attempt to appeal directly to [[King George III]] with the hope for reconciliation between the colonies and Great Britain.<ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/congress-adopts-olive-branch-petition Congress adopts Olive Branch Petition]</ref>  Three days after their arrival in Britain, Penn and his companion, diplomat Arthur Lee,<ref>[http://archives.nypl.org/mss/22996 Richard Penn and Arthur Lee letters regarding the Olive Branch Petition]</ref> were informed by letter that no answer would be given to it.

This contemptuous rejection of the humble petition of Congress went upon the ground that the body petitioning had no legal existence. The Americans from the time of that rejection of their last humble effort at pacification held that to British councils, and not to American, all the bloodshed and guilt of the war were to be ascribed. In an examination of Mr. Penn before the House of Lords, he averred that the general feeling in America was not for independence, but simply "for the defence of their liberties." Mr. Penn's opinions on this subject have been confirmed by those held by Washington, Madison, Franklin, and Jefferson, before the commencement of hostilities. A motion that the petition of Congress afforded grounds for conciliation was rejected by an overwhelming majority.<ref name=knight />

This contemptuous rejection of the humble petition of Congress went upon the ground that the body petitioning had no legal existence. The Americans from the time of that rejection of their last humble effort at pacification held that to British councils, and not to American, all the bloodshed and guilt of the war were to be ascribed. In an examination of Mr. Penn before the House of Lords, he averred that the general feeling in America was not for independence, but simply "for the defence of their liberties." Mr. Penn's opinions on this subject have been confirmed by those held by Washington, Madison, Franklin, and Jefferson, before the commencement of hostilities. A motion that the petition of Congress afforded grounds for conciliation was rejected by an overwhelming majority.<ref name=knight />