Changes

The idea of a central government for the 13 main British colonies in America dates to the [[Albany Congress]] of 1754. Led by [[Benjamin Franklin]] there were discussions about unity for more effective defense against the French and Indians. The Albany Congress drafted a plan that proposed a central government with the power to raise troops and levy taxes for colonial defense, to dispose of western lands and create new colonies, and to regulate Indian affairs. Colonial legislatures rejected the plan and Great Britain ignored it.

The idea of a central government for the 13 main British colonies in America dates to the [[Albany Congress]] of 1754. Led by [[Benjamin Franklin]] there were discussions about unity for more effective defense against the French and Indians. The Albany Congress drafted a plan that proposed a central government with the power to raise troops and levy taxes for colonial defense, to dispose of western lands and create new colonies, and to regulate Indian affairs. Colonial legislatures rejected the plan and Great Britain ignored it.

After the expulsion of France from North America in 1763, there was no longer an external danger to the colonies.  They did not need British military or naval protection. The British, however, insisted on imposing a series of taxes, partly to raise revenue and partly to demonstrate the superiority of Parliament. The Americans insisted that they possessed the traditional rights of Englishmen and only their elected officials had the power to raise taxes; they were not represented in Parliament, which therefore could not levy taxes.  The dispute was unbridgeable, especially as Americans started adopting [[republicanism|republican political ideas]] that warned the aristocratic British system was corrupt and dangerous. Popular leaders in the colonies, such as [[Samuel Adams]] in Massachusetts and [[Patrick Henry]] in Virginia tried to achieve united opposition to British policies.

After the expulsion of France from North America in 1763, there was no longer an external danger to the colonies.  They did not need British military or naval protection. The British, however, insisted on imposing a series of taxes such as those contained in the [[Stamp Act]], partly to raise revenue and partly to demonstrate the superiority of Parliament. The Americans insisted that they possessed the traditional rights of Englishmen and only their elected officials had the power to raise taxes; they were not represented in Parliament, which therefore could not levy taxes.  The dispute was unbridgeable, especially as Americans started adopting [[republicanism|republican political ideas]] that warned the aristocratic British system was corrupt and dangerous. Popular leaders in the colonies, such as [[Samuel Adams]] in Massachusetts and [[Patrick Henry]] in Virginia tried to achieve united opposition to British policies.  Shortly after the passage of the Stamp Act, the [[Stamp Act Congress]] was convened.

During the fifteen years that the Continental Congress met, [[Charles Thomson]] served as its secretary.

During the fifteen years that the Continental Congress met, [[Charles Thomson]] served as its secretary.