The First Continental Congress was a gathering of members from twelve of North America’s thirteen British provinces. It was held from September 5 to October 26, 1774 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Congress was convened to discuss concerns against the British government and to plan a reaction to the Coercive Acts, a series of measures enacted by the British government in 1774 to punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party.
The Congress passed the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and formed the Continental Association to boycott British goods. The Congress also formed a committee to compose a petition to King George III, requesting him to address the problems of the colonies.
The First Continental Congress was a significant step forward in the colonies’ quest for independence from Great Britain.
Facts About the First Continental Congress
1. The First Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from September 5 to October 26, 1774.
From September 5 to October 26, 1774, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosted the First Continental Congress. The city of Philadelphia was chosen as the site of the Congress because it was centrally located and easily accessible to members from all of the colonies.
The Congress met in Independence Hall, which was known as the Pennsylvania State House at the time. Independence Hall was chosen as a symbolic place since it was where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were later signed.
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Representatives from 12 of the 13 British colonies in North America attended the Congress, with Georgia being the only province that was not represented.
Each colony was authorized to send two to seven delegates, for a total of 56 delegates in attendance. Peyton Randolph, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses and the first President of the Congress, declared the Congress open.
2. The First Continental Congress was attended by representatives from 12 of the 13 British colonies in North America.
The First Continental Congress was attended by representatives from 12 of the 13 British colonies in North America.
The colonies that were represented at the Congress were:
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Maryland
- Delaware
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
Georgia was the only colony not represented at the Congress. Each colony was authorized to send two to seven delegates, for a total of 56 delegates in attendance.
Peyton Randolph, the Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses and the first President of the Congress, declared the Congress open.
Representatives at the Congress came from a wide range of backgrounds, including wealthy landowners, merchants, attorneys, and farmers.
They represented a wide spectrum of political perspectives, from those who remained loyal to the British authority to those who had already advocated for independence.
Despite their differences, the representatives were able to work together to address the representatives’ concerns against the British government and to plan a reaction to the Coercive Acts.
3. The First Continental Congress was called to address a number of grievances against the British government, specifically the Coercive Acts.
The First Continental Congress was convened to address several concerns against the British authority, including the Coercive Acts.
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The British government established a series of legislation in 1774 to punish the colonists for the Boston Tea Party. The Coercive Acts, commonly called as the “Intolerable Acts” by colonists, included the following provisions:
- The Boston Port Act, which restricted Boston’s port until the colonists compensated for the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party.
- The Massachusetts Government Act, which removed the colonial government of Massachusetts and replaced it with a British-controlled government.
- The Administration of Justice Act, which allowed British officials accused of crimes committed in the colonies to be tried in the United Kingdom rather than the colonies.
- The Quartering Act, which forced colonists to furnish British soldiers with lodging and supplies.
- The Quebec Act, which enlarged Quebec’s borders and established a government for the territory, was viewed as a danger to the colonies.
The colonies saw these acts as a breach of their rights and liberties, and they were widely condemned.
The Congress was convened to organize a response to these acts and to consider how the colonies could work together to safeguard their rights and liberties. The Congress was viewed as an opportunity for the colonies to exhibit a united front to the British authority.
4. The Coercive Acts were a Reaction to the Boston Tea Party
The Coercive Acts, commonly known by colonists as the “Intolerable Acts,” were a set of legislation enacted by the British government in reaction to the Boston Tea Party in 1774.
The Boston Tea Party, which took place on December 16, 1773, was a colonial protest against the British government’s tea taxation and the East India Company’s monopoly on the tea trade.
A group of colonists costumed as Mohawk Indians seized British ships in Boston Harbor and hurled 342 chests of tea into the water in protest.
The British government interpreted this conduct as a direct challenge to their power and responded by enacting the Coercive Acts to punish the colonies and restore order.
5. Charles Thomson served as the Secretary of the First Continental Congress
From September 5 until October 26, 1774, Charles Thomson served as Secretary of the First Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thomson was a well-known colonial politician, and his appointment as Secretary of the Congress was considered as a testament to his centrality to the cause of colonial rights.
Charles Thomson was a member of Philadelphia’s Committee of Correspondence, a group of colonial leaders that communicated with other colonies in order to coordinate resistance to British policy. He was a staunch advocate of colonial rights and a key role in the opposition to British policies.
Thomson’s political savvy and leadership were critical in leading the Congress and its conclusions. He was in charge of keeping the Congress’s minutes, writing documents and correspondence, and interacting with other colonies and leaders.
6. The Congress adopted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, outlining the colonies’ complaints against the British government.
The Declaration of Rights and Grievances was a statement passed by the First Continental Congress in 1774 that outlined the colonies’ grievances against the British authority.
The declaration was viewed as a method for the colonies to present a united front in interactions with the British administration and to express their problems plainly. After a month of debate and discussion among the representatives, the Declaration was accepted on October 14, 1774.
The Declaration of Rights and Grievances was divided into two sections: rights and grievances. The list of rights described the privileges and rights that the colonists believed they were entitled to as British subjects, such as self-governance, a fair trial, and representation in the British government.
The list of grievances detailed the colonists’ specific complaints against the British government about the Coercive Acts.
The Declaration of Rights and Grievances also featured a call for the colonies to band together in order to safeguard their rights and liberties and to oppose the British government’s activities.
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It also asked for a petition to King George III, pleading with him to address the problems of the colonies. The Declaration of Rights and Grievances was regarded as a vital step toward the colonies’ eventual independence, as well as an early stage in the revolutionary conflict.
7. The Continental Association was Founded in 1774
The Continental Association, commonly known as the “Association of the Sons of Liberty,” was founded in 1774 by the First Continental Congress. The Association advocated a boycott of British goods as well as a non-importation agreement among the colonies.
The Association was made up of correspondence committees from each colony that were in charge of communicating with one another and arranging the boycott. In addition, the committees were in charge of implementing the non-importation agreement and monitoring and reporting any infractions.
The Association also urged colonists to avoid from drinking particular items, including as tea, and to stop purchasing British-made goods. The Association also requested that local committees be formed to enforce the boycott and check compliance.
The Association was instrumental in mobilizing colonists behind the cause of resistance and in fostering a sense of unity across the colonies.
The Continental Association was an important step toward colonial independence. It was a crucial form of organization and coordination across the colonies, and it contributed to the colonists’ sense of solidarity and commitment.
The colonies’ commitment to resist British policies that they perceived as a violation of their rights and liberties was also exhibited by the Association. It played a significant role in the ultimate Revolutionary War.
8. The First Continental Congress also formed a Continental Army.
The First Continental Congress also established a Continental Army to protect the colonies from the British government.
On June 15, 1775, Congress nominated George Washington as commander-in-chief of the army. Washington was a well-known Virginia landowner, a French and Indian War veteran, and a recognized military officer.
The establishment of the Continental Army was a major step toward the colonies’ eventual independence. It was the first time the colonies banded together to organize a military force to defend themselves from the British government.
The Congress approved the formation of an army of up to 25,000 men, and Washington was tasked with organizing, training, and commanding the force.
The Continental Army was made up of men from all thirteen colonies, and it was the first time the colonies joined forces to establish a cohesive military force.
The establishment of the Continental Army indicated the colonies’ willingness to preserve their rights and liberties against the British government, which was a vital step toward eventual independence.
Washington’s leadership was critical to the Continental Army’s early success. He was able to efficiently organize and train the men, and he led them to numerous significant triumphs in the early years of the Revolutionary War.
Washington’s leadership and the construction of the Continental Army were critical factors in the colonies’ eventual independence.
9. Virginia’s Peyton Randolph was unanimously voted to preside over the sessions.
Peyton Randolph, a distinguished Virginia lawyer and politician, was unanimously elected to preside over the First Continental Congress meetings.
Randolph was a well-liked figure in the colonies, and his election as President of the Congress was viewed as a show of colonial unity.
Peyton Randolph was a Virginia House of Burgesses member who subsequently became Speaker of the House of Burgesses. He was a staunch advocate of colonial rights and a key role in the opposition to British policies.
Randolph’s political ability and leadership were critical in leading the Congress and its conclusions. During the arduous and tense debates that took place during the Congress, he helped to foster a sense of togetherness among the colonies.
Randolph presided over the First Continental Congress and called for a second Continental Congress to be held in 1775, but he was unable to attend the second Congress due to his premature death, but his involvement in the first congress was recalled by his colleagues.
His role was critical in the early phases of the American Revolution, as it helped to unite the colonies and lay the foundation for the colonies’ eventual independence.
10. The Congress concluded with a resolution to reassemble if their petitions were not heeded or if the British government took further coercive measures.
The First Continental Congress adjourned on October 26, 1774, with the adoption of a resolution to reassemble if their pleas were not heeded or if the British government took further oppressive measures.
This resolution underlined the colonies’ willingness to protect their rights and liberties against the British government, and it was a vital step toward eventual independence.
If the British government did not address the grievances mentioned in the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, or if it took any further coercive steps against the colonies, the colonies were to reconvene in May of the following year. In the meanwhile, the resolution urged the colonies to continue organizing and preparing for defense.
This resolution underlined the colonies’ willingness to protect their rights and liberties against the British government, and it was a vital step toward eventual independence.
It also demonstrated that the colonies were unified and ready to sue the British authority if their issues were not addressed.
In 1775, the Second Continental Congress met, and it was there that the colonies declared their independence from Great Britain.
This First Continental Congress decision laid the groundwork for the formation of the Continental Army, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, and, ultimately, the Revolutionary War.