Final answer:
The Olive Branch Petition, which professed loyalty to the crown and urged Britain to negotiate, was the correct response. It was a peaceful attempt at reconciliation before the Revolutionary War, rejected by King George III.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the student's question is d. Professed American loyalty to the crown and urged Britain to negotiate. The Olive Branch Petition was the American colonists' attempt to assert their loyalty to King George III while expressing the desire to resolve conflicts without further warfare. It suggested that the colonies either be given free trade and taxes equal to those in the mother country or no taxes at all with strict trade regulations. Drafted in June 1775 and approved on July 5, the Petition represented the colonists' last hope for a peaceful reconciliation before the full escalation to the Revolutionary War.
However, it was rejected by the King, who declared the colonies in rebellion, thwarting the efforts for peace and setting the stage for the pursuit of full independence.
During the drafting of the Olive Branch Petition, Congress was simultaneously preparing for the possibility of war. Leading figures such as John Dickinson and Thomas Jefferson were also involved in drafting The Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, a document that stated the reasons for the colonies to prepare for conflict.