<span>If King George had accepted the Olive Branch Petition colonists may not have pressed for Independence at that time. Many members of the Continental Congress were rallying support for Independence based on the issue of taxation and fair trade. If these issues were resolved through diplomatic means, then colonists would have been less inclined to pursue Independence from a reasonable King.</span>
"Among them was the right of the church to be free from governmental interference, the rights of all free citizens to own and inherit property and to be protected from excessive taxes."
