ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY
July 5, 1775
The Olive Branch Petition is Approved
On this day in 1775, the Second Continental Congress approved a letter that would be known as "The Olive Branch
Petition". The letter was one last attempt by the American colonists to reconcile with Great Britain's King George
III in hopes of avoiding war.
The Olive Branch Petition was first drafted by Thomas Jefferson but was heavily modified by John Dickson. A small
group of delegates led by John Adams disagreed with this approach and believed war was the only way the colonists
could achieve their goals. Ultimately, Adams would prove to be right.
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