Final answer:
The biggest impacts leading to the American Revolution were the Tea Act of 1773, which upset the colonial economy, and the Battles at Lexington and Concord in 1775, which marked the onset of war. Key figures like George Washington and the Continental Congress were instrumental in the shift from seeking reconciliation to declaring independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two events that had the biggest impact on leading the colonists to revolution were the introduction of the Tea Act in 1773, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea importation, and the battles at Lexington and Concord in 1775, which were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. These events escalated tensions significantly and disrupted the possibility of a peaceful reconciliation. The Tea Act directly impacted the colonial economy and incited the famous Boston Tea Party, a revolutionary act of protest among colonists. Meanwhile, the violence at Lexington and Concord symbolized a point of no return, prompting the Second Continental Congress to adopt a government in opposition to British rule.
The important people and groups involved in the colonial protests leading up to the revolution included figures such as George Washington, who would become the Commander of the American forces, and groups like the Continental Congress, which played a critical role in moving from reconciliation to independence, eventually issuing the Declaration of Independence. This Declaration solidified the colonial stand against perceived British tyranny. Social unrest during this period also influenced various segments of the population, resulting in a diverse group of men and women, of different races and statuses, coming together to face an uncertain future.