Introduction
In this two-part project you will reseach an important battle that had an impact on the
outcome of the American Revolution, and use that research to create a short graphic
novel/booklt.
Task
In this two-part project you will reseach an important battle that had an impact on the outcome of the
American Revolution, and use that research to create a short graphic novel/booklt.
You will use the graphic orgnizer provided to you to record your reseach. You will only have ONE DAY to
use the Chrome book so take good notes! Tomorrow you will use your notes to create your graphic
novel/booklet.
Process
Process / Research:
Directions: Read and use the following information to help fill out your graphic orgnizer. Be as detailed as possible!
King George III in 1771, painted by Johann Zoffany
The country was getting ready for war. With some of the colonists being loyal to the King, the congress thought it best to petition the king in hope that there could still be peace.
King George, however, did not even read the Olive Branch Petition when it was delivered.
When the colonies of America discovered that the King did not even look at the document, it enraged them. This was one of the major causes of the American Revolution.
The Writing of the Olive Branch Petition
The Olive Branch Petition, also known as The Second Petition to the King (because a previous petition had been sent by the First Continental Congress) and The Humble Petition, was written twice before it was given to King George.
The first draft was written by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Rutledge, John Jay, and William Livingston. When it was first presented to the committee of congress on June 24, 1775, it was not approved. Congress sent the petition back to its writers, which had mainly been written by Benjamin Franklin himself.
Thomas Jefferson rewrote the document in simpler words, then John Dickson, realizing that the first draft was written too harshly and would only anger the king, adjusted Thomas Jefferson's draft to perfection.
Excerpt from Final Draft of the Olive Branch Petition
"Attached to your Majesty's person, family, and Government, with all devotion that principle and affection can inspire; connected with Great Britain by the strongest ties that can unite societies, and deploring every event that tends in any degree to weaken them, we solemnly assure your Majesty, that we not only most ardently desire the former harmony between her and these Colonies may be restored, but that a concord may be established between them upon so firm a basis as to perpetuate its blessings, uninterrupted by any future dissensions, to succeeding generations in both countries, and to transmit your Majesty's name to posterity."
The Olive Branch Petition as a Cause of the Revolutionary War
The letter clearly states many times that the colonists were loyal to the King and guaranteed that they were not seeking independence. They simply wanted the king to address their grievances.
They sent it to England by the hand of Richard Penn, son of William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. However, the king refused to receive it. Two days later, he wrote publicly that the colonies were going into full scale rebellion and called for Parliament to come to his aid in settling the American rebellion.
What did not help is that John Adams, opposed to the Olive Branch Petition, had written a letter to General James Warren speakiness of readiness for independence and mentioning the stockpiling of arms. It was intercepted by the British and published. This only solidified the king's worries that the colonies were in rebellion.
On November 7th, the Olive Branch Petition was presented to the House of Commons, where they tried to consider it as a petition for reconciliation. The motion was defeated.
On December 4th, the Continental Congress forged a second document attempting to persuade the king to hear their grievances. They published the letter and sent it to agents in Great Britain. This, too, was rejected by King George without being read.
The King's response to the Olive Branch Petition struck a hard blow against the colonists, especially those who wanted to stay in peace with Britain. Now that the reality was known, most colonists felt reconciliation would be impossible.
The next spring, Thomas Pain wrote Common Sense, which expressed the colonists' right to fight against the King's tyrannical ways, throwing fuel on an already raging fire. The Declaration of Independence would follow hard on its heels that summer.
Evaluation
How will you be graded?
Since this is a two-part project, you will be recieveing two grades!
Part A: The Research
- Completed reseacher organizer with detailed information
Part B: The Graphic Novel / Booklet
- Completed graphic novel/booklet
- Quality of work. Make sure that I can read everything and it is not sloppy.
- Accurate historical information is used within the novel. Remember you cannot change historical facts!
Conclusion
When you have completed reading the passage and reccording your information, you may
start an outline or rough draft of your graphic novel. The graphic novel will be done
INDEPENDENTLY for a grade! I will also be grading your reseach organizer!
Credits
Process tab information taken directly from: http://www.revolutionary-war.net/olive-branch-petition.html
Images found on http://www.revolutionary-war.net/olive-branch-petition.html