Final answer:
The colonists tried to negotiate peace with King George III by sending the Olive Branch Petition, declaring their loyalty and asking for the repeal of the Intolerable Acts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before declaring independence, the colonists attempted to negotiate peace with King George III by sending an Olive Branch Petition. This petition was sent in 1775 and expressed the colonists' loyalty to the king while requesting the repeal of the Intolerable Acts. However, King George III rejected the petition, further increasing tensions between the colonists and the British crown.
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