Describe the events in the year before the Declaration of Independence that led the colonists to declare their independence.

The
colonists had been growing increasingly upset with the British government since the French and
Indian War ended in 1763. Several actions occurred in the year before the Declaration of
Independence was issued that convinced the colonists that this action was proper and necessary.
The colonists were infuriated with the passage of the Intolerable Acts in 1774, and they refused
to obey them. The First Continental Congress met in September 1774 and asked Great Britain to
repeal these laws, which Great Britain refused to do. The colonists stopped importing British
products and began to form their own militias. Britain refused to back down and increased the
number of British troops in the colonies.

In April 1775, the first battle of
the Revolutionary War was fought. It should be noted that this was an unofficial battle of the
Revolutionary War since independence wasnt declared until July 4, 1776. However, both sides
suffered many casualties as a result of the fighting at Lexington and at Concord. Many colonists
believed that a full-scale war was now inevitable with Great Britain.

The
Second Continental Congress met in May 1775, and it established a colonial army led by George
Washington. The Second Continental Congress began to act like a government as money was printed
and a post office was created. The colonists still hoped for a peaceful resolution of their
differences with Great Britain by sending the Olive Branch Petition to King George. The
colonists indicated they wanted peace and again asked for the removal of the laws that they
disliked. However, King George refused to do what the colonists had requested.

In January 1776, Thomas Paine wrote a very influential pamphlet called Common
Sense, which explained why the colonists should become independent from Great
Britain. This document swayed many people who were undecided about which side to support.
Eventually, the Second Continental Congress authorized the drafting of a document that became
the Declaration of Independence when it was adopted on July 4, 1776.