On This Day
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First Continental Congress makes Declaration of Colonial Rights in Philadelphia

The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates of twelve of the Thirteen Colonies (Georgia did not attend) held from September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia at...

The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates of twelve of the Thirteen Colonies (Georgia did not attend) held from September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia at the beginning of the American Revolution. The meeting was organized by the delegates after the British Navy implemented a blockade of Boston Harbor and the Parliament of Great Britain passed the punitive Intolerable Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party.

During the opening weeks of the Congress, the delegates conducted a spirited discussion about how the colonies could collectively respond to the British government's coercive actions, and they worked to make a common cause.

Historical Significance

The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates of twelve of the Thirteen Colonies (Georgia did not attend) held from September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia at the beginning of the American Revolution.

Events Before

  1. Captain James Cook becomes the first person to cross the Antarctic Circle (66°33′ S)

    Captain James Cook (7 November 1728 – 14 February 1779) was a British Royal Navy officer, explorer, and cartographer who led three voyages of exploration to the Pacific and Southern Oceans between...

  2. Spanish painter Francisco Goya marries Josefa Bayeu in Madrid

    Spanish painter Francisco Goya marries Josefa Bayeu in Madrid

  3. American revolution patriot Paul Revere (38) weds Rachel Walker in Boston, Massachusetts

    American revolution patriot Paul Revere (38) weds Rachel Walker in Boston, Massachusetts

  4. American seamstress Elizabeth Griscom (Betsy Ross) weds American upholster John Ross at Huggs Tavern in Gloucester City,

    American seamstress Elizabeth Griscom (Betsy Ross) weds American upholster John Ross at Huggs Tavern in Gloucester City, New Jersey

  5. Boston Tea Party incident – Sons of Liberty protesters throw tea shipments into Boston Harbor to protest the British-imp

    Boston Tea Party incident – Sons of Liberty protesters throw tea shipments into Boston Harbor to protest the British-imposed Tea Act and escalating taxation without representation in the British Parliament

Events After

  1. British Parliament declares Massachusetts Colony in rebellion

    British Parliament declares Massachusetts Colony in rebellion

  2. Patrick Henry proclaims "Give me liberty or give me death" in a speech encouraging Virginia troops to join the American

    Patrick Henry proclaims "Give me liberty or give me death" in a speech encouraging Virginia troops to join the American Revolutionary War

  3. Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott ride from Charlestown to Lexington warning "the regulars are coming out!"

    Paul Revere, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott ride from Charlestown to Lexington warning "the regulars are coming out!" [1]

  4. American Revolution begins in Lexington, Massachusetts, with the "Shot Heard Round the World" fired later that day in Co

    American Revolution begins in Lexington, Massachusetts, with the "Shot Heard Round the World" fired later that day in Concord

  5. Second Continental Congress convenes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, issuing paper currency for the first time

    The Second Continental Congress (1775–1781) was the meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolution and Revolutionary War, which established American…

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United States Declaration of Independence

The Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, announcing the separation of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain.

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Date of action in Victor Herbert and Grant Stewart's opera "Madeleine"

Date of action in Victor Herbert and Grant Stewart's opera "Madeleine"

The London Credit Exchange Company issues the first traveler's cheques, which can be used in 90 European cities

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on October 14, 1774?
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates of twelve of the Thirteen Colonies (Georgia did not attend) held from September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia at the beginning of the American Revolution. The meeting was organized by the delegates after the British Navy implemented a blockade of Boston Harbor and the Parliament of Great Britain passed the punitive Intolerable Acts in response to the Boston Tea Party. During the opening weeks of the Congress, the delegates conducted a spirited discussion about how the colonies could collectively respond to the British government's coercive actions, and they worked to make a common cause.
Why is First Continental Congress makes Declaration of Colonial Rights in Philadelphia significant?
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates of twelve of the Thirteen Colonies (Georgia did not attend) held from September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia at the beginning of the American Revolution.

Explore More

October 14 in HistoryYear 1774