On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress

Resolved, That the Inhabitants of the colony of Virginia resist to the utmost the arbitrary government intended to be established by Governor Lord Dunmore.

Whereas Lord Dunmore, by his proclamation lately published, has declared his intention to execute martial law, thereby tearing up the foundations of civil authority and government within the said colony:

Resolved, Therefore, that if the convention of Virginia shall find it necessary to establish a form of government in that colony, it be recommended to that Convention to call a full and free representation of the people, and that the said representatives, if they think it necessary, establish such form of government as in their judgment will best produce the happiness of the people, and most effectually secure peace and good order in the colony, during the continuance of the present dispute between Great Britain and these colonies.

The Continental Congress had already recommended to New Hampshire and to Massachusetts that those colonies form new governments independent of British rule and now Virginia would follow suit. The colonies were becoming independent states even before there would be an independent United States.

Source: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-december-4-1775/

On this day 250 years ago at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General Washington wrote to the President of the Continental Congress John Hancock about a rumor that the British intended to use biological warfare:

By recent information from Boston, Genl Howe is goeing to Send out a number of the Inhabitants in order it is thought to make more room for his expected reinforcements, there is one part of the information that I Can hardly give Credit to. A Sailor Says that a number of these Comeing out have been innoculated, with design of Spreading the Smallpox thro’ this Country & Camp.

Source: https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness/html.php?section=4

On this day 250 years ago on Prospect Hill in the siege lines surrounding Boston, Corporal Moses Sleeper and 11 men from his company reenlisted for another year of service in the Continental Army. They were granted furlough for eight days to return home Newburyport, Massachusetts. Sleeper stretched his furlough to 16 days but he did return to the Army and served until January 1777 fighting in the Battles around New York and at Princeton.

Source: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/revolutionary-war-diary-of-moses-sleeper.htm