What did the First Continental Congress accomplish?
The British Parliament were once the colonizers of some territories in the North American
continent. They passed mandates that angered American Patriots like the implementation of
taxation without representation. With the frustration of the American Patriots, they initiated a
political protest called the Boston Tea Party to protest against this implementation. The British
Parliament in return, retaliated by passing the Intolerable (Coercive) Acts which punished the
protesters and closed the port of Boston on March 28, 1774. The passing of this Act led to the
convention of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774 for the
purpose of organizing colonial resistance against the British Parliament. As a result, these are
the accomplishments of the First Continental Congress:
1. Declaration of Rights. This declaration reaffirmed the Congress’ loyalty towards the British
Parliament. However, in this Declaration the Congress also stated their disagreement with the
taxation of the British Parliament without representation. This Declaration also included the
adoption of the following rights to life, liberty, trial by jury, assembly, and property.
2. Articles of Association. This gave an ultimatum for the British Parliament to denounce the
Intolerable (Coercive) Acts. Not following their request would stop all the importation of goods
from the colonies to the British Isles starting on December 1, 1774. Also, in October 1774, the
Congress requested for a redress of grievances or asking for resolution to the complaints of the
Congress since 1763. Failing to do so would result to the cessation of exportation of goods to
Britain starting September 10, 1775.