The purpose of the First Continental Congress, which met from September 5 to October 26, 1774, was to coordinate a collective colonial response to the British government's punitive Intolerable Acts (also known as the Coercive Acts) that were imposed after the Boston Tea Party. The Congress aimed to assert the rights of the American colonists as Englishmen, address grievances against British policies, and seek redress from King George III
. Key goals and actions of the Congress included:
- Declaring that colonists should have the same rights as Englishmen, including life, liberty, property, assembly, and trial by jury
- Adopting the Suffolk Resolves, which called for a trade boycott of British goods and urged colonies to train militias
- Forming the Continental Association, which implemented a boycott of British imports starting December 1, 1774, and planned to stop exports to Britain if grievances were not addressed by September 1775
- Sending a Petition to the King pleading for repeal of the Intolerable Acts and redress of grievances, though this appeal was ultimately unsuccessful
- Planning to reconvene in 1775 if satisfactory solutions were not reached, which led to the Second Continental Congress after hostilities began
The Congress was a significant step toward colonial unity and resistance, bringing together delegates from twelve colonies (all except Georgia) to discuss common concerns and coordinate collective action against British policies
. In summary, the First Continental Congress was convened to protest British oppression, assert colonial rights, organize economic resistance through boycotts, and seek reconciliation with Britain-while preparing for further collective action if necessary
