The outcome of the First Continental Congress, which met from September 5 to October 26, 1774, was a unified colonial response to the British Intolerable Acts, aiming to assert colonial rights while avoiding outright independence at that time. Key outcomes included:
- Adoption of the Declaration and Resolves , which outlined colonial objections to British policies, asserted colonial rights (including life, liberty, property, assembly, and trial by jury), and demanded repeal of the Intolerable Acts
- Creation of the Continental Association , a formal agreement to boycott British goods starting December 1, 1774, to pressure Britain economically into repealing the Intolerable Acts. This boycott included non-importation and planned non-exportation of goods to Britain if grievances were not addressed by September 1775
- Establishment of committees of observation and inspection in each colony to enforce the boycott and monitor compliance
- Drafting and sending a Petition to King George III seeking redress of grievances and repeal of the Intolerable Acts. This petition was ultimately ignored by the King
- Agreement to reconvene the Congress in May 1775 if the British government did not satisfactorily address colonial concerns, laying the groundwork for the Second Continental Congress
- Recommendations for increased military readiness , including the formation and regulation of colonial militias, anticipating possible conflict
The Congress represented a compromise between radicals who wanted stronger measures and conservatives who sought reconciliation. While it stopped short of declaring independence, it marked a significant step toward colonial unity and self-governance, effectively creating a network of colonial resistance and governance outside direct British control
. In summary, the First Continental Congress unified the colonies in a coordinated economic boycott, asserted colonial rights, petitioned the crown, and prepared for potential conflict, setting the stage for the American Revolutionary War that followed shortly after
