Inside the Vault: The Olive Branch Petition
“The petition of these United Colonies to the King, for the redress for great and manifest grievances, have not only been rejected, but treated with scorn and contempt.”
—Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress
In July 1775, colonists tried to avoid the American Revolution by sending a petition to King George III. Known as the Olive Branch Petition, the document declared their loyalty to the Crown while demanding redress of their grievances. The king rejected the Olive Branch Petition before even reading it, and the Continental Congress authorized the arming of vessels for war in response.
Join us on July 3, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) when our curators will discuss the Olive Branch Petition and its aftermath with Dr. Denver Brunsman, Associate Professor of History at George Washington University.
Submit your questions for Dr. Brunsman here.
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- Essay: “The Proclamation, Reading, and Immediate Reception of the Declaration of Independence” by John R. Vile
- Essay: “The American Revolution, 1763–1783” by Pauline Maier
- Essay: “Teaching the Revolution” by Carol Berkin
- Essay: “The Road to Revolution” by T. H. Breen
- Lesson Plan: The American Revolution: The Boston Massacre, “Yankee Doodle,” and the Declaration of Independence, 1770–1776
- Lesson Plan: The Declaration of Independence, 1776
- Guided Readings: Toward Revolution
I cannot attend the live program. Will it be recorded?
Yes! The program is recorded and sent in an email the following day to everyone who registers.
Future Programs
Inside the Vault: Manhattan Project Scientists Predict a Nuclear Arms Race
Join us on August 7, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) when our curators will discuss the declaration of concern, written by Manhattan Project scientists after the United States bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, with Cynthia Kelly, president of the Atomic Heritage Foundation.
Inside the Vault: The Battle of Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation
Join us on September 4, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) when our curators discuss the Battle of Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation with Dr. Edward Ayers, professor of history at the University of Richmond.
About Inside the Vault
Inside the Vault: Highlights from the Gilder Lehrman Collection is an online program that highlights unique primary sources from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. From iconic historical treasures, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Emancipation Proclamation, to personal letters that reveal the contributions of ordinary American citizens, each session will investigate primary sources and discuss their background, impact, and potential use in the classroom.