First Continental Congress

The First Continental Congress was called for as a response to the so-called Intolerable Acts that had been put into place to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. Twelve of the thirteen colonies send delegates to the Congress in Philadelphia. Georgia did not send any delegates because they did not want to risk losing British support when it came to the perceived threat posed by Native Americans in the area.

Structure

Delegates were elected in their various colonies, often by Committees of Correspondence. When the Congress began, the delegates chose a president to oversee the meetings. This was Peyton Randolph of Virginia.

Culture

The delegates were all tasked with acting on behalf of their home colonies' best interests. Specifically, this was in regards to how to respond to the new acts put in place to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. The decisions made during the Congress show how the delegates felt about the acts and their need to react to them.

Public Agenda

Some key decisions were made during the First Continental Congress:

Endorsement of the Suffolk Resolves: The Suffolk Resolves originated in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The Resolves told citizens not to obey the law of the so-called Intolerable Acts, demanded non-importation of British goods, and ordered the raising of the militia.

Creation of the Continental Association: The Continental Association called for an end to trade with Britain and the creation of committees of inspection to ensure citizens obeyed this restriction. It also called for loyalty pledges and imposed frugality.

Writing a petition to King George III: There was still hope at this time that the colonists could explain their actions in a way that did not assign blame to the king, who most of them still respected as their king, and that a positive solution could come of it. This petition included declaring that the colonists had certain rights that they must protect when unjust governments try to undermine those rights.

Plans for a Second Continental Congress the following spring: This was to give time for the Continental Association to have an impact on the relationship between the colonies and Great Britain. The hope was that the pain of an end of trade would cause the British government to give the American colonies a more direct say in the laws and acts that impacted them.

September 5, 1774 - October 26, 1774

Type

Illicit, Rebel

Successor Organization

• Second Continental Congress

Location

Philadelphia

Sources:

• First Continental Congress (Mount Vernon)

• On This Day: The First Continental Congress Concludes (National Constitution Center)

• Continental Congress (Boston Tea Party Ship)

• See also: the bibliography on my website