The First Continental Congress now opens. It is Sept. 5, 1774. For a period of nearly 10 years, there has been a struggle between the colonists and the British government, for one reason or another.

There were a total of 56 delegates who met in this meeting. Some of the men who had gathered together to try to determine what the next move by the colonists should be, are as follows: John and Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, Washington and Patrick Henry of Virginia, Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island, John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, and John Rutledge of South Carolina.

The group was made up by lawyers, planters and merchants.

Those differences were soon laid aside and there was an agreement upon one common ground.

Something had to be done about how the English were treating the colonists.

The meeting was opened with prayer, which as stated in a previous article, lasted for hours.

In this meeting, it was decided they would respectfully petition the king to end the grievances between himself and the colonies.

Those things they considered as “infringements and violations” of their rights were sited from the 13 acts of the British Parliament.

It was urged that all the colonies would adopt the American Association. The association was a universal prohibition of trade with Great Britain.

Though it made a handful of exceptions, it prohibited import, consumption and export of goods with England.

Unlike most of the individual associations, it established citizen committees to enforce the act throughout the colonies.

On Oct. 20, 1774, the Congress adopted the concept that was outlined by the group. It was signed by Peyton Randolph, president of the association.