Why did members of the second continental congress send the olive branch petition to king george iii? 1.they wanted the king to know they were ready to fight a war. 2.they hoped the king would replace parliament. 3.they wanted to remain loyal to the king. 4.they hoped the king would believe that the colonies could win a war.

3. They wanted to remain loyal to the king.

Most of the members of the Continental Congress wanted to remain with Great Britain and saw themselves as only English subjects. The Olive Branch Petition asked the King to reconsider a better relationship with the colonies to include a representative in Parliament to speak on behalf of the colonies. It is only when they realized the King was unwilling to meet them somewhere in the middle, that the Congress took steps to declare independence.