Final answer:
The Olive Branch Petition to King George III requested reconciliation by proposing free trade and fair taxes or no taxes with trade regulation. However, the king rejected it, leading to the Revolutionary War.
Step-by-step explanation:
The petition sent to King George III by the First Continental Congress, known as the Olive Branch Petition, was a final attempt at reconciliation.
The Congress issued the petition, declaring its loyalty to the king and its hopes that King George III would prevent further hostilities and aggressions against the colonies, which had escalated following the Intolerable Acts and events such as the battles at Lexington and Concord.
The petition offered two main suggestions: either grant the colonies free trade and impose taxes equal to those of British citizens or apply no taxes and maintain strict trade regulations.
Despite this effort to maintain peace and address grievances, the king rejected the petition and declared the colonies in open and avowed rebellion, leading to the Revolutionary War.
Even before the rejection of the Olive Branch Petition, the Congress was preparing for potential conflict, warning the colonies to arm themselves, and creating the Continental Army with George Washington appointed as commander-in-chief.
Eventually, the Second Continental Congress would lead the war effort and start establishing a government for the new United States of America.