What did the First Continental Congress do?

The First Continental Congress organized colonial opposition to British rule by adopting four major instruments during its session at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia from September 5 to October 26, 1774. First, it endorsed the Suffolk Resolves on September 17, 1774, a set of resolutions drafted by Joseph Warren and the towns of Suffolk County, Massachusetts that declared the Coercive Acts unconstitutional, urged Massachusetts to organize an independent provincial government, called for the formation of armed militias, and recommended economic sanctions against Britain. Second, on October 14, 1774 the Congress adopted the Declaration and Resolves, an enumeration of colonial rights based on the laws of nature, the principles of the English Constitution, and the several charters and compacts of the colonies.

The Declaration demanded repeal of 13 acts of Parliament passed since 1763, including the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Duties, Tea Act, Coercive Acts, and Quebec Act. Third, on October 20, 1774 the Congress signed the Continental Association, a coordinated system of economic warfare against British trade. The Association required colonial merchants to halt importation of British goods after December 1, 1774, halt consumption of British goods after March 1, 1775, and halt exportation to Britain, Ireland, and the West Indies after September 10, 1775 if grievances were not redressed.

Local committees of inspection elected in every county and town would publish the names of violators and shun them. By 1775 thousands of these committees existed, providing the de facto government that conducted the early war effort and replaced royal authority across the colonies. Fourth, the Congress prepared three petitions and addresses: a humble petition to King George III seeking redress, an address to the people of Great Britain explaining colonial grievances, and an address to the people of Quebec inviting them to join in resistance.

The Congress also created procedural precedents that mattered later: it gave each colony one vote regardless of size, kept proceedings secret, and used committees to draft documents. Before adjourning, it agreed to reconvene in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775 if Britain did not respond favorably. Britain rejected the petitions, Lord Dartmouth ordered Massachusetts officials to use force, and fighting broke out at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.

The institutions established by the First Continental Congress, especially the local committees of inspection, became the foundation of the revolutionary government that prosecuted the war.