You would probably be a British citizen today, except for one letter written on July 24th 1775…
A few weeks earlier, the Continental Congress had dispatched a petition to the King.
Dripping with patronage and reassurances of loyalty, the petition asked for reconciliation, for peace.
“…our breasts retain too tender a regard for the kingdom from which we derive our origin to request such a reconciliation as might in any manner be inconsistent with her dignity or her welfare.”
The letter basically said, “Hey, we’ll drop the whole ‘independence’ thing if y’all will just negotiate fairly on taxes and trade. We can be a big happy British family!”
The diplomacy of this Olive Branch Petition was good. Maybe even good enough to harmonize the two continents.
Until John Adams scratched a private letter to his friend General Warren on July 24th.
In the personal letter he revealed his disgust with the Petition and remarked on preparations for war.
British forces intercepted his letter. It was immediately published in every British newspaper.
In August, when Lord Dartmouth tried to bring the Olive Branch Petition before King George, he was rejected.
There would be no reconciliation.
Formally rebuffed by the King, the heart of the colonies began to turn.
Abigail Adams spoke for the people on November 12th 1775 when she wrote in a letter:
“Let us separate, they are unworthy to be our Brethren. Let us renounce them and instead of supplications as formerly for their prosperity and happiness, let us beseech the Almighty to blast their counsels and bring to nought all their devices.”
Exactly one year after the colony leaders signed the Olive Branch Petition, they signed the Declaration of Independence.
A lot can change in a year…
