why did the first continental congress meet

The First Continental Congress met in 1774 primarily as a response to the British Parliament's passage of the Intolerable Acts (also called the Coercive Acts), which were punitive measures aimed at reasserting British control over the American colonies following the Boston Tea Party. The Congress convened to address growing British aggression, unify the colonies, and plan collective actions such as boycotting British goods to protest these oppressive laws. Delegates discussed colonial rights, grievances against Britain, and measures to enforce economic boycotts, seeking a redress of their grievances while initially aiming to avoid full independence. The meeting was a crucial step toward colonial unity and resistance that led to the American Revolution.