John saw these laws as imposing actions of their rights as Englishmen, and joined the patriot side of the colonists who were against Britain.
John was fully aware of the laws of Britain, and used them to his advantage. On one occasion Custom officers snuck aboard on the Liberty looking for evidence to persecute Hancock on, the crew treated the two officers with malice and contempt. The office of the Custom Collectors complained, but it was clearly stated that sneaking onboard was not permitted. This shows how legally tactful Hancock was in his ways.
Later on, on May 9, 1768, the same ship Liberty sailed into Boston carrying wine. The taxes on it were paid, but the Custom's office thought Hancock was smuggling more wine in. The British took control of the ship, and seized it. It was then that the Sons of Liberty came to Hancock's aid, and forced the officers to flee the scene. Hancock was then viewed as a victim of royal oppression and a martyr to the patriot cause.
Hancock was then elected to the Massachusetts General Court in 1769. The Court was allowed by Mary and William, which was stated in a charter given to Massachusetts. The charter allowed a place for a large role of self-governing, and served as the lower house of the colonial legislature.
The General Court then turned into the Massachusetts Provincial Congress in 1774. Hancock was elected as it's president, and the colonists looked to him for great decisions. Hancock's main goal while in the Provincial Congress was to promote the patriot cause, and defeat the dictatorship that was England.
During the time Hancock was President of the Provincial Congress, he was elected into the Second Continental Congress in 1775. Hancock was elected as president due to his involvement with colonial cause up until this point. Hancock served as the president for his first two years in Congress. He served until 1780 when bad health caused a resignation.