After the British government raised taxes once again with, the Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Tariffs of 1767 and the Tea Act of 1773, the colonists asked for additional representation and equal rights, but were denied. Immediately, the colonial resistance started following the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Act in 1773.
The First Continental Congress was created in September of 1774 with George Washington, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry and John Jay present. The group met in Philadelphia, and while they did not demand independence, they did demand representation if there was to be taxation and additional rights that they did not have. The group agreed that they would meet once again in May of 1775. However, on April 19, 1775, the first shots were fired in the Revolutionary War, and the Continental Congress did more than just meet once again. During the Third Continental Congress in June of 1776, the Declaration of Independence was created and signed.