Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 8,794
The last try...
After the so-called "Boston Tea Party" on December 16, 1773 ...
... and open violent clashes with the British military at Lexington ...
...and Concord...
... on April 19, 1775, the British colonies in North America, which are striving for full equality in parliament ("No Taxation Without Representation!") or immediately for full independence, are on the brink of an all-out war with the mother country.
In May 1775 the political representatives of the colonies meet at Philadelphia for the "Second Continental Congress" ...
... to advise how to proceed now.
In doing so, under the leadership of John Dickinson ...
... a significant faction from Delaware that continues to seek a compromise with the king.
Dickinson and his political friends are in a very difficult position, especially against the representatives of the states in which there has already been fighting - and it does not get any easier when there is a heavy fight at Bunker Hill during the ongoing Congress (June 17th 1775) ...:
Nevertheless, Dickinson and his parliamentary group persist in seeking a peaceful settlement with the British crown and on July 5th they submit a corresponding draft resolution.
It states that it is the intention of the undersigned to "avoid further bloodshed" and to avert "impending calamities that threaten the British Empire". In addition, they expressed "continued loyalty to the king", to whom a truce was proposed until the colonial problems with the "motherland" were resolved.
This resolution is passed by the Continental Congress on July 8, 1775 - and has gone down in history as the "Palm Branch" or "Olive Branch Petition" ...:
Immediately after the adoption of this peace resolution, members of the Continental Congress set off for England - and arrive in the British capital on August 14th.
But King George III.
... supported by his advisors, who are taking a hard line against the colonists in America - refuses to receive the delegates or even to take note of the decision they have made!
Already on July 1, George III. has written:
"I am of the opinion that when once these rebels have felt a smart blow, they will submit; and no situation can ever change my fixed resolution, either to bring the colonies to due obedience to the legislature of the mother country or to cast them off! "
Instead, a few days later, on August 23, 1775, the stubborn monarch published his own declaration of will, the so-called "Proclamation of Rebellion" ...
... in which the colonies are accused of illegal armed uprising, which the Crown now has to put down.
This makes the position of Dickinson and his friends in the Continental Congress politically untenable!
The war can no longer be averted ...
After the so-called "Boston Tea Party" on December 16, 1773 ...
... and open violent clashes with the British military at Lexington ...
...and Concord...
... on April 19, 1775, the British colonies in North America, which are striving for full equality in parliament ("No Taxation Without Representation!") or immediately for full independence, are on the brink of an all-out war with the mother country.
In May 1775 the political representatives of the colonies meet at Philadelphia for the "Second Continental Congress" ...
... to advise how to proceed now.
In doing so, under the leadership of John Dickinson ...
... a significant faction from Delaware that continues to seek a compromise with the king.
Dickinson and his political friends are in a very difficult position, especially against the representatives of the states in which there has already been fighting - and it does not get any easier when there is a heavy fight at Bunker Hill during the ongoing Congress (June 17th 1775) ...:
Nevertheless, Dickinson and his parliamentary group persist in seeking a peaceful settlement with the British crown and on July 5th they submit a corresponding draft resolution.
It states that it is the intention of the undersigned to "avoid further bloodshed" and to avert "impending calamities that threaten the British Empire". In addition, they expressed "continued loyalty to the king", to whom a truce was proposed until the colonial problems with the "motherland" were resolved.
This resolution is passed by the Continental Congress on July 8, 1775 - and has gone down in history as the "Palm Branch" or "Olive Branch Petition" ...:
Immediately after the adoption of this peace resolution, members of the Continental Congress set off for England - and arrive in the British capital on August 14th.
But King George III.
... supported by his advisors, who are taking a hard line against the colonists in America - refuses to receive the delegates or even to take note of the decision they have made!
Already on July 1, George III. has written:
"I am of the opinion that when once these rebels have felt a smart blow, they will submit; and no situation can ever change my fixed resolution, either to bring the colonies to due obedience to the legislature of the mother country or to cast them off! "
Instead, a few days later, on August 23, 1775, the stubborn monarch published his own declaration of will, the so-called "Proclamation of Rebellion" ...
... in which the colonies are accused of illegal armed uprising, which the Crown now has to put down.
This makes the position of Dickinson and his friends in the Continental Congress politically untenable!
The war can no longer be averted ...
