What were they?• Groups of individuals

organized by government

– Coordinated written

communication outside of

colony

– Lead the way towards

coordinated action and

decision-making between the

colonies.

The Original• Established by Samuel

Adams

– Worked with rural patriots

– Enabled all of Massachusetts

to have access to patriot texts

• Promoted the establishment

of more such committees

Responsibilities• Spread written material and

information around

– Seaport citizens were more

informed than those in inland

towns

• Sometimes assisted in other

things, e.g. Boston Tea

Party

Development• Established as an official

committee by Virginia

government, 1773

– Each colony now had central

committee that coordinated

discussion with other

colonies

• First step towards a

congress

Overview• Important forerunner to

colonies’ cooperation

– 1st committee that brought

the colonies together for

decision-making

• A step towards

representative government –

colonies unite