he Olive Branch Petition was a petition sent to King George III by congress. It respectfully asked the king to end the quarrel between Britain and the colonies. The king responded to this petition by saying that they were "open and avowed rebellion" and ordering his ministers to "bring the traitors to justice". A quote that embodies the colonists thoughts after the petition would be, "We must be independent or slaves."

Toward Independence

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Common Sense was a pamphlet published by Thomas Paine. He wrote about the argument that the colonies' ties to Britain had benefited Americans and he scoffed at the idea that Americans owed any loyalty to King George. This pamphlet was important because it persuaded the colonists that independence was the right thing.