What Was The Committees of Correspondence?

The Committees of Correspondence were like secret shadow organizations.

American patriotic leaders created these committees around a decade before the American Revolution began.

These shadow organizations were formed in the 13 colonies of America to maintain uninterrupted communication among themselves.

Its main objective was to keep the leaders and common people of the colonies informed about the British Government’s decisions and patriots’ activities.

Through those steps, they wanted to help common people to understand and take proper actions against Britain’s unfair or harmful decisions.

The Committees of Correspondence played a very significant role during the era of the American Revolution.

For example, during the time of the First and Second Continental Congress, the Boston Massacre, and the Wartime.

Throughout all the 13 colonies, around 8000 American patriots served in these shadow organizations.

First Time, When Did The Committees of Correspondence Formed?

First time, the first organization of the Committees of Correspondence was formed in Boston in 1764.

The cause was to encourage American colonists to protest against the customs enforcement reformation and the currency act passed by the British Parliament.

In 1765, when the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, a similar committee was formed in New York.

In 1773, at the Virginia House of Burgesses, colonies’ leaders agreed to create their own committees for intercolonial communication.

Till the end of the American Revolution, these Correspondence Committees kept playing vital roles against the British Empire.

Committees’ Role In The First Continental Congress

You should know that the committees were the first institution among the 13 colonies to make uninterrupted communication among themselves.

In 1773, the Virginia House of Burgesses decided to create a committee to keep inter-colonial correspondence among all 13 colonies.

In 1774, when 12 of the 13 colonies united in the First Continental Congress, it played an important role.

Because Congress was formed secretly without knowing the British authorities.

And on the way to keeping this secrecy, these inter-colonial organizations took their full responsibility.

But Who First Started These Committees? 

Revolutionary leader Samuel Adams first started the formation of these Correspondence committees in Boston, Massachusetts province.

Some around 20 other patriots from rural areas co-operated with him in executing the job.

Why The Committees of Correspondence Were Successful Organizations?

The first thing is that if patriots didn’t form all these committees, then perhaps the American Revolution could never have succeeded.

Because these committees were the main threads that spread the news from one place to another very fast during the revolution’s time. 

These committees encouraged colonists to reduce the use of British goods and get self-reliant.

For example, in 1774, at the First Continental Congress, when in response to the 5 Intolerable Acts, colonists’ delegates decided to impose an economic boycott on English goods, then these Correspondence Committees spared the news throughout all the 13 colonies.

As a result, colonists accepted the decision of Congress and contributed from their side to make the boycott successful.

Committees also looked after the merchants who delayed in boycotting their trade with Britain.

Many other uncountable examples exist like this, where if the committees did not work, those might not have been possible.