The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from twelve of the Thirteen American Colonies, held from September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia. It was convened in response to the British Parliament's passage of the Intolerable Acts, punitive measures imposed after the Boston Tea Party, including the blockade of Boston Harbor and revocation of Massachusetts' charter
. The Congress brought together 56 delegates, including notable figures such as George Washington, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Peyton Randolph, who was elected president of the Congress
. Georgia was the only colony that did not send delegates at this time due to stronger Loyalist sentiments
. The primary purpose of the Congress was to coordinate a collective colonial response to British oppression. The delegates debated various approaches, ranging from seeking reconciliation with Britain to preparing for outright resistance. Ultimately, they adopted the Suffolk Resolves, which called for a boycott of British goods and urged colonies to form militias
. The Congress issued the Declaration and Resolves, which included the Continental Association—a plan for a trade embargo against Britain starting December 1774—and a petition to King George III requesting repeal of the Intolerable Acts. When the petition failed, the Congress planned to meet again, leading to the Second Continental Congress in 1775 as tensions escalated into armed conflict
. In summary, the First Continental Congress was a seminal gathering that united the colonies in protest against British policies, established coordinated economic resistance, and set the stage for the American Revolutionary War
