Lindsey Graham

Meanwhile, colonists in Massachusetts refused to accept Gage's authority as their new governor.

In the summer of 1774, mobs forced the resignations of Crown-appointed officials and descended on courthouses to prevent judges and lawyers from holding court, effectively shutting down the legal system.

And even though Gage had dissolved the Massachusetts Assembly, its members reconvened anyway, forming a shadow government in defiance of British authority.

Meanwhile, all across Massachusetts, men began forming militias and stockpiling weapons and ammunition.

This growing crisis underscored the need for a united front, so in September 1774, leaders from every colony but Georgia gathered in Philadelphia for the first Continental Congress.

Patrick Henry described the new spirit of unity taking hold, declaring, The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, and New Englanders are no more.

I am not a Virginian, but an American.

And after seven weeks, this Continental Congress issued a formal declaration affirming that the colonists were entitled to the same rights as English citizens and that Parliament had no authority to pass laws governing the colonies.

But despite their objection to British overreach, there were no calls for independence.

George Washington summarized the prevailing opinion when he declared that independence was not desired by any thinking man in all North America.

Instead, the Continental Congress appealed directly to King George, asking him to have the intolerable acts repealed.

But as far as the king was concerned, the Continental Congress was an illegal body that deserved no response.

He told the Prime Minister, "...the New England governments are in a state of rebellion.

Blows must decide whether they are to be subject to this country or independent."

But at the same time that the Continental Congress issued their appeal to the king, they also pursued more concrete action, adopting a plan to disrupt British trade.

In the 1770s, American markets were the fastest-growing and most valuable of all of Britain's trading partners.

The delegates hoped that if they boycotted British goods, the economic pressure would persuade Parliament to back down.

So on October 20th, the Continental Congress introduced a sweeping boycott of British trade, known as the Continental Association, and throughout the colonies, local committees were tasked with enforcing strict compliance.

Imagine it's March 1775 in Wilmington, North Carolina.

You're lingering over breakfast with your family when you hear a knock on the front door.