What was the purpose of the First Continental Congress?

The purpose of the First Continental Congress was primarily to discuss colonial responses to British policies. Convened in 1774, delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies gathered in Philadelphia to address growing tensions between the colonies and the British government. They focused on voicing their grievances over issues like taxation without representation, especially in light of acts such as the Intolerable Acts, which had prompted concerns about British overreach and violation of colonial rights.

While the notion of independence was beginning to take shape, it was not the central aim of this congressional meeting. Instead, the delegates sought to unite the colonies in their resistance against British policies and to create a coordinated response. This included the establishment of the Continental Association to boycott British goods and promote economic pressure as a means to assert their rights. The Congress set the stage for future actions towards independence, but its immediate purpose was primarily to address and organize a collective colonial response to oppressive British measures.