It was September 5, 1774. A group of men gathered in secret in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was no ordinary meeting. It was the first step toward America’s independence.
At the time, many people in the 13 Colonies were fed up with being ruled by Great Britain. American colonists didn’t have any say in harsh laws they were forced to follow.
The 56 delegates had come from across the Colonies to talk about how to unite against the British. Future presidents George Washington and John Adams were there. That secret meeting 250 years ago is known as the First Continental Congress.
“This is the beginning of the 13 Colonies becoming the 13 states,” says Brian Krisch of the National Constitution Center. “It was the beginning of a process.”