Final answer:
King George's rejection of the Olive Branch Petition demonstrated his belief that the colonists were primarily interested in revolution, not reconciliation. This rejection significantly influenced the colonies' decision to declare independence and paved the way for the Revolutionary War.
Step-by-step explanation:
King George's rejection of the Olive Branch Petition demonstrated his belief that most colonists were not interested in reconciliation, but rather, were intent on starting a revolution to overthrow royal rule.
The Olive Branch Petition was a document sent by the Second Continental Congress to King George III in 1775, in an attempt to avoid a full-blown war. However, King George rejected the petition outright, signifying his conviction that the colonists' primary goal was secession, not compromise.
The king's reaction to the Olive Branch Petition factored heavily into the colonies' decision to formally declare independence (through the Declaration of Independence) a year later. By that point, it had become abundantly clear that diplomatic appeals to the throne would not prevent the looming conflict (which would eventually escalate into the Revolutionary War).
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