The Olive Branch Petition was a petition sent to George the third asking him to end the quarrel. George answered back by saying that the traitors wold have to be put to justice and saying no. The quote that colonists thought after the petition was "we must be independent or slaves."

Thomas Paine published the common sense. It said that he scuffed the idea that any American owes the king loyalty. It was important because 120,000 copies were made and it persuaded many colonists that independence was not only sensible, but a key to a brighter future.