Prior to sending any declaration of independence, the Continental Congress sent a formal petition to King George III known as the "Petition to the King" in 1774. This petition was an appeal by the First Continental Congress requesting the repeal of the Intolerable Acts and expressing their grievances in hopes of avoiding war between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies. The petition emphasized loyalty to the King and sought his intervention to restore harmony by addressing colonial concerns such as taxation without representation and the presence of a standing army in the colonies. However, King George III rejected the petition, which contributed to the eventual move toward independence and the American Revolutionary War
. Additionally, in 1775, the Continental Congress sent another appeal called the "Olive Branch Petition," which was a last attempt to reconcile with the King before declaring independence. This petition also was rejected outright by King George III, who refused to receive it, further escalating tensions between the colonies and Britain
. Thus, the Continental Congress first sought peaceful resolution through petitions to the King before ultimately declaring independence.
