StellarTensions Rise
Even though the colonists and the British Army fought in armed conflict at Lexington and Concord, the war had not officially begun and was instead an informal conflict. However, Parliament saw the colonists as engaging in open rebellion, and thus passed the Prohibitory Act. The Prohibitory Act stipulated that colonists couldn’t trade, a blockade was installed, Hessian Mercenaries were sent to the colonies, and governors tried to urge slaves to rebel. Seeing as this basically meant that a formal conflict was all but inevitable, the Second Continental Congress convened. During the Second Continental Continental Congress, they appointed George Washington to be head of the Continental Army, as well as continuing to purchase firearms and other supplies of war. However, many colonists still saw themselves as loyal and dutiful subjects, and as a result, did not support calls for independence. Due to the Second Continental Congress wishing to be representative of the colonists, they also did not declare independence… yet. Rather, they tried in vain to peacefully resolve the situation with the Olive Branch Petition which tried to compromise between what the Colonists wanted and what Parliament wanted, but was rejected by Britain, who considered the colonists to be rebelling.