On this day in 1774, in response to the British Parliament's enactment of the Coercive Acts in the American colonies, the first session of the Continental Congress convenes at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia. Fifty-six delegates from all of the colonies except Georgia drafted a declaration of rights and grievances and elected Virginian Peyton Randolph as the first president of Congress. Patrick Henry, George Washington, John Adams and John Jay were among the delegates.
Because I didn't post over the Labor Day weekend, here are the links for Saturday through Monday:
September 2- "Congress Founds US Treasury"
September 3- "The Stars and Stripes Flies"
September 4- "Bravery of Swamp Fox Wins Recruits at Blue Savannah"