What is the First Continental Congress?

The First Continental Congress marked the first time that the American colonies met together to develop a unified response to their grievances against the British crown.

What was most significant about the First Continental Congress?

The First Continental Congress was significant because it showed England that the American colonies were willing to band together to address their injustices, and that they could successfully pull off a widespread boycott.

Why was the Continental Congress significant?

The First Continental Congress was significant because it showed England that the American colonies were willing to band together to address their injustices, and that they could successfully pull off a widespread boycott. It led to the creation of the Second Continental Congress later on.

Who were the members of the Continental Congress?

The First Continental Congress included 12 out of the 13 states (Georgia was still loyal to the crown). Some important historical figures include George Washington, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison.

What was the point of the 1st Continental Congress?

The point of the First Continental Congress was for the colonies to work together to stop what they viewed as growing injustices and unfair taxation by England.

What was the Stamp Act?

A tax that Britain imposed on every piece of paper in the colonies

What did the First Continental Congress do in response to their grievances with England?

Affirm their loyalty to the crown while also calling for a boycott of British goods

What did the Stamp Act Congress decide to tell England?

That they were still loyal, but asked that the Stamp Act be lifted immediately

How did England respond to the effective boycott by the colonies?

They doubled down even more on the Coercive Acts

What was one of the main reasons the Stamp Act was repealed?

Because British merchants were losing money and lobbied against it

First Continental Congress: Summary

First Continental Congress

The Continental Congress demonstrated to England, and the rest of the world, that the colonies had the strength to come together and make major political decisions. The First Continental Congress was held in September and October of 1774, and ultimately led to the Second Continental Congress, which lasted from 1775 to 1781.

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First Continental Congress: Definition

The First Continental Congress was the formal meeting of delegates from the American colonies in 1774 to decide what to do about the mistreatment from the British. Each colony had their own form of government and operated independently, so the first Continental Congress was the first form of unified government in the colonies.

“Continental” means that it had delegates from across the continent and “Congress” means a formal meeting between delegates. That’s where the term “Continental Congress” comes from!

US Politics First Continental Congress Mural Patrick Henry StudySmarter A mural depicting the First Continental Congress. In the center, Patrick Henry delivers a speech to the First Continental Congress. The left shows a colonist paying his taxes, and the right shows the British occupation of the colonies. Source: Wikimedia images CC0 License: Author, USCapitol

First Continental Congress History

The colonies had been in communication for decades, and even coordinated an effort through the Stamp Act Congress. However, the escalation of policies from Britain led to a more concerted effort in the form of a formal Continental Congress.

Stamp Act Congress

Before the formal creation of the Continental Congress, the colonies met together in 1765 to discuss their grievances about the Stamp Act.

The Stamp Act

The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act in the aftermath of the French and Indian War to help pay for all of the soldiers that they had stationed in the colonies. It was the first time they had directly taxed the colonies. The Stamp Act required that essentially any piece of paper carry a “stamp” which certified that the owner had paid the tax to the British crown.

Paper was used in everyday life, from newspapers to books to court documents, advertisements, and letters. The high tax on such an everyday item outraged colonists since they felt like the money was just going to pay for Britain’s wars.

Unifying over the Stamp Act

Nine colonies sent representatives to the Stamp Act Congress: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and South Carolina. The other colonies declined to send delegates for various reasons - some of them were struggling financially and others didn’t want to be associated with it.

The states that gathered for the Stamp Act Congress adopted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances (even though only 6 out of the nine colonies signed it). The Declaration said that the colonies were still loyal to the crown, but that England couldn't just tax them without giving them any representation in parliament.

The Stamp Act was eventually repealed, mostly because of merchants who were taking a huge financial hit. However, it also resulted in Parliament passing the Declaratory Act, which asserted that it had the authority to legislate for the colonies “in all cases whatsoever.” The Declaratory Act further upset the colonies, who didn’t think it was just or right for Parliament to claim the authority to legislate for them without giving them any representation in government.

US Politics First Continental Congress Stamp Act Political Cartoon StudySmarter A political cartoon depicting the death of the Stamp Act in 1965. Source: Wikimedia Commons CC-PD-Mark: Author, Unknown

Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts)

The Coercive Acts of 1774 (called the “Intolerable Acts” by the colonies) led to escalating tensions between the colonies and England. Parliament wanted to force the colonies back in line after the antics of the Boston Tea Party in 1773, where colonists dumped hundreds of boxes of tea into the harbor to protest new taxes on tea. The Coercive Acts included four separate acts: the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Act of the Impartial Administration of Justice, and the Quartering Act.

The Quartering Act required colonists to house British soldiers at their own expense.

The Boston Port Act gave the British Royal Navy the authority to blockade the Boston Harbor and effectively shut down trade.

The Massachusetts Government Act said that instead of residents electing their own governor, the crown would appoint a governor instead. The new royal governor could appoint their own judges and sheriffs.

The Act for the Impartial Administration of Justice gave the new governor of Massachusetts the authority to move the physical location of trials to a different colony.

US Politics First Continental Congress Boston Tea Party StudySmarter A painting of the Boston Tea Party, when colonists dumped tea into the harbor to protest the excessive tax on tea. Source: Wikimedia Commons CC-PD.Mark: Author, Sopran

First Continental Congress Summary

Outrage at the Coercive Acts angered the colonies even more. No one wanted to call for a war or independence, but they didn't want to keep living under the oppressive rule of England.

The Coercive Acts convinced the colonies to meet together to debate how they should handle their complaints with the crown. The colonies sent delegates to the First Continental Congress that met from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia.

US Politics First Continental Congress Carpenters Hall StudySmarter You can still visit Carpenter's Hall (pictured above) in Philadelphia today! Source: Wikimedia Commons

First Continental Congress Members

The First Continental Congress included delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies. Georgia declined to attend because they still had some loyalties to the crown. The other colonies were: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Some of the most prominent figures in early American history and Founding Fathers were delegates to the First Continental Congress! This included Samuel Adams, John Adams, John Hancock, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Patrick Henry, and George Washington.

Declaration and Resolves

The first few weeks of the Continental Congress saw heated debate between the delegates. Each had their own ideas about whether they should be loyal to the crown or try to force them to improve their policies. They decided to compromise with the Declaration and Resolves. The declaration affirmed the colonies’ loyalty to the crown while showing that they wouldn't stand for the oppressive policies.

Articles of Association

The Articles of Association detailed the colonies’ plans to impose economic sanctions on Britain. They adopted a “non-importation, non-consumption, non-exportation” policy as a peaceful, but effective, way to push England to lift its policies. If the Coercive Acts were not lifted by September 1775, the Articles of Association threatened to ban all exports from the colonies as well.

Boycott

As of December 1774, importing goods from Britain, Ireland, or the West Indies was banned.

The boycott of all British goods proved to be very successful: British imports dropped by 97% in 1775. Each colony set up its own local enforcement task force to ensure compliance. At this point, Britain was so unpopular in the colonies that many people were eager to take a stand by refusing to purchase any British goods. Those that opposed the boycott were punished by public shaming.

Aftermath

Instead of relenting and giving in to their demands because of the boycott, Britain doubled down on the Coercive Acts and other punitive measures. As a result, a second Continental Congress met in 1775 and ultimately made the decision to go to war with England and fight for independence. For more information on the Second Continental Congress, check out our Study Smarter Article!

First Continental Congress Significance

The First Continental Congress marked the first formal, concerted effort of the colonies to band together to address their grievances against Britain. While the Stamp Act Congress was an important precursor, it was much weaker in its request, tone, and membership. The First Continental Congress also made the first decision to show Britain that there would be consequences if their demands weren’t met.

Edenton Tea Party

While the men were protesting oppressive rule by tossing tea into harbor during the Boston Tea Party, a group of women organized what is now called the Edenton Tea Party.

Penelope Barker, a prominent social leader in Edenton, North Carolina, led the effort to write a statement of protest and declaration of their intention to boycott British goods. Fifty-one women signed the statement and sent it to London, where local newspapers published a cartoon mocking the letter.

People in the states weren’t aware of the letter until 1827 when a North Carolina naval officer visiting London discovered the unflattering cartoon and brought it back. Today, the Edenton Tea Party is celebrated as one of the first activist activities among colonial women.

British Political Cartoon StudySmarter The British cartoon mocking the Edenton Tea Party. Source: Wikimedia Commons

First Continental Congress - Key takeaways

The First Continental Congress met in 1774 to respond to the Stamp Act, Coercive Acts, excessive taxes, and lack of representation in Britain.
Twelve of the thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia for the first Congress that united the continent.
The First Continental Congress passed the Articles of Association and called for a boycott.
While the boycott was successful, it made Britain double down on its oppressive policies even more, resulting in the calling of the Second Continental Congress and the declaration of war.
The Edenton Tea Party is celebrated as one of the first activist activities taken on by colonial women.
Georgia refused to attend the First Continental Congress because many colonists there were still loyal to the crown.
The Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, were a combination of four acts set in place by the crown against American colonists, they include: the Quartering Act, the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, and the Act for the Impartial Administration of Justice.

First Continental Congress

StudySmarter Editorial Team

First Continental Congress: Definition