On July 6, 1775, the Continental Congress agreed to send the so-called Olive Branch Petition to King George III. The petition affirmed loyalty to the crown while asking for redress of colonial grievances. Many delegates still hoped to avoid full-scale war and negotiate a compromise. However, fighting had already broken out at Lexington and Concord. The British government ultimately rejected the petition and declared the colonies in rebellion. The failure of this last major reconciliation attempt pushed the colonies closer to declaring independence.
