<P> The Olive Branch Petition was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 5, 1775 in a final attempt to avoid a full - on war between Great Britain and the thirteen colonies represented in that Congress . The Congress had already authorized the invasion of Canada more than a week earlier, but the petition affirmed American loyalty to Great Britain and beseeched King George III to prevent further conflict . That the petition was followed by the July 6 Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms made its success in London improbable . In August 1775, the colonies were formally declared to be in rebellion by the Proclamation of Rebellion, and the petition was rejected by Great Britain--even though King George had refused to read the Olive Branch Petition before declaring the colonists traitors . </P> <P> The Second Continental Congress convened in May 1775, and most delegates followed John Dickinson in his quest to reconcile with King George III of Great Britain . However, a rather small group of delegates led by John Adams believed that war was inevitable . During the course of the Second Continental Congress, Adams and his allies decided that the wisest course of action was to remain quiet and wait for the opportune time to rally the people . </P>

Who refused to receive the olive branch petition