This Day in American History...

Meredith Jessup | September 05, 2009 9:00 AM

On this day in 1774, 56 representatives from 12 of America's 13 original colonies gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to convene the First Continental Congress. Colonists were angered over the passage of the Intolerable Acts in Great Britain--measures the colonists believed were arbitrary violations of their rights.

The representatives of the First Continental Congress organized an economic boycott to protest and demanded a redress of grievances from the King in Great Britain.

By the time the Second Continental Congress would meet the following year in May 1775, the fighting of America's war for independence would already be underway.