How and why did the colonial resentment of British policies move from protest and demonstration to war and the Declaration of Independence?

Beginning in 1765, resentment towards the British grew due to increasingly imposed taxes and regulations on the colonies. It started with meetings, demonstrations and parades - militants started calling themselves the Sons of Liberty. Later in 1765, there was a petition to the king and Parliament for relief and the repeal of the Stamp Act. Tensions continued to rise over the next few years. On March 5, 1770, there were clashes with British soldiers and five colonists were killed. On December 6, 1773, the Sons of Liberty dressed up as Indians and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the Boston Harbor as a protest - an act known today as the Boston Tea Party. Less than a year later, representatives from twelve colonies met in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774 as the First Continental Congress. They exchanged ideas to go against the British policies. Paul Revere's famous ride occurred in April of 1775 warning of the arrival of the British. Outside of Boston, the first shots were fired in the Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. The Revolutionary War dragged on from 1775-1789, with the Declaration of Independence formally being declared on July 2, 1776 and being approved on July 4, 1776.