In 1774, significant events unfolded in the context of the growing tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain. One notable event was the First Continental Congress, which convened in September in response to the Intolerable Acts. Delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia to discuss their grievances and coordinate a unified response to British policies. Additionally, 1774 marked the publication of influential writings, such as Thomas Paine's pamphlet "Common Sense," which later inspired revolutionary thought. The year set the stage for the American Revolution, as colonists increasingly sought independence from British rule.