several events that were important in 13 colonies becoming the United States of America.
1774: the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts (which was a shadow government) ordered all town militias in Massachusetts to stockpile arms and "use their utmost diligence to perfect themselves in military skill."
(in 1773, hardly anybody in any colony was thinking of independence from England. By the end of 1774/early 1775, it was being discussed in every colony. The speed at which this concept took root is remarkable, considering there was no TV, radio, social media, etc. to spread the idea or arguments in favor of it.)
1774: the 1st Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adjourned, but voted to reconvene on May 10, 1775 if Britain failed to address the colonies' grievances. King George III refused to even receive their petition, and by the time they reconvened the Shot Heard Round The World had already taken place in Massachusetts.
1776: Benjamin Franklin set sail from Philadelphia for France. His orders from the 2nd Continental Congress were to negotiate and secure a formal alliance and treaty with France. France secretly supported the patriots in the early months/years of the American Revolution, but Franklin and the French did not officially reach a public alliance until Feb. 6, 1778, when they signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance.
1774: the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts (which was a shadow government) ordered all town militias in Massachusetts to stockpile arms and "use their utmost diligence to perfect themselves in military skill."
(in 1773, hardly anybody in any colony was thinking of independence from England. By the end of 1774/early 1775, it was being discussed in every colony. The speed at which this concept took root is remarkable, considering there was no TV, radio, social media, etc. to spread the idea or arguments in favor of it.)
1774: the 1st Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adjourned, but voted to reconvene on May 10, 1775 if Britain failed to address the colonies' grievances. King George III refused to even receive their petition, and by the time they reconvened the Shot Heard Round The World had already taken place in Massachusetts.
1776: Benjamin Franklin set sail from Philadelphia for France. His orders from the 2nd Continental Congress were to negotiate and secure a formal alliance and treaty with France. France secretly supported the patriots in the early months/years of the American Revolution, but Franklin and the French did not officially reach a public alliance until Feb. 6, 1778, when they signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance.
