First Continental Congress

(Period: The Road to Independence)

Synopsis:

For a brief synopsis of the history of this time and period: Click Here.

Historical synopsis courtesy of A Hypertext on American History from the colonial period until Modern Times by Department of Humanities Computing, University of Groningen, The Netherlands and the former United States Information Agency (1953-1999).

Key Facts:

• The Boston Port Bill closed the port in the Boston Harbor, which would have a devastating effect on Boston's economy.
• Georgia was the only colony to not send a delegate to Philadelphia.
• A total of 55 delegates met at the Continental Congress.

Key Events:

• On September 5th, 1774, colonial representatives met in Philadelphia to discuss the unhappy state of the colonies.
• September 1774 - King George III declared that the colonists must either submit or triumph.

Key People:

• First Continental Congress - delegates to the September 5th meeting in Philadelphia

Vocabulary:

• Coercive or Intolerable Acts - name given by the colonists to the laws imposed by the British Parliament as a reaction to the Tea Party.