The Result of The First Continental Congress

What was the output that came out as a result of the First Continental Congress of 1774?

Now, in the below, we have tried dividing and discussing each one of the results of the meeting.

So, let’s start from the very first one…

1. The Initial Formation of The United States of America

Before the First Continental Congress, all the thirteen colonies were known only as part of the British Empire. They were not known as the United States of America.

Also, they never got united like that before with a similar motive.

From September 5th to October 26th, 1774; for the first time, via the Continental Congress, twelve of the thirteen British American colonies united to serve a similar purpose in Philadelphia and they became the United States.

However, due to some obstacles, Georgia didn’t participate in the meeting.

Georgia came together the next year in 1775 while the Second Continental Congress was organized.

We can say, the initial formation of the United States of America was the first result of this congress.

If this meeting had not taken place, the colonies might never have come together. If that were the case, the American Revolution would never have been successful.  

For this reason, many historians also want to define the Continental Congress as the first federal government of the United States.

2. Boycott of British Economic Goods

The main intention of the First Continental Congress was to force the British Parliament to repeal the ‘5 Intolerable Acts‘ of 1774.

Even Congress delegates tried to make a discussion with the British authority over the issue.

But it made no benefit to them.

Hence, in response to the Intolerable Acts, in the Continental meeting, they decided to impose an economic boycott over the British trade and boycott their goods until they repeal them (bad laws).

The boycott came into effect on December 1st, 1774.

Till the end of 1775, that economic boycott significantly reduced British goods’ imports to the colonies by 97 percent.

English authority came into a major suspicion seeing this strict attitude of the colonists.

As a result, it closed almost all the doors of negotiation between these two sides and ensured inevitable military conflict.

3. Growth of Unitary Feeling Among The 13 Colonies

Before the Congress held in 1774, people of the 13 colonies didn’t have any proper unitary feelings.

Most of them considered themselves British citizens. Even they were quite happy with that feeling.

But once the British authority started cheating on them, it forced them to realize that they were not Britishers. They learned that they have a completely different identity.

And that identity was none other but Americans.

The First Continental Congress helped the people of the 13 colonies to understand better that they were one.

And if they want to protect their rights of being Americans, they needed to be free from the clutches of British rule.

4. Preparation To Set Up Own Militias For Inevitable Military Conflict

The delegates of the First Continental Congress were quite smart and visionary.

They knew the colonies and the British authority would soon have to involve in some major military conflicts.

Therefore, they urged each colony’s delegates to set up their own militias.

Later, this decision proved one of the far-sighted decisions of Congress.

Because only after five months, on 19th April 1775, the first military conflict, the Battles of Lexington and Concord broke out.

This military conflict completely started the Revolutionary War of America’s full independence.

Most importantly, in this battle, American militias got strategic victory over British Red Coats (English army).

It boosted up their morale so much for upcoming major battles.