When 56 colonial delegates assembled in Philadelphia in September, 1774, breaking away from their mother country, Great Britain, was the last thing on their minds. All that these brave and forward-thinking men wanted was for King George III to recognize their rights and lliberties and give them and their fellow colonists the same respect he gave to all English citizens. The king's refusal to stop exploiting the colonies set in motion events that changed the course of history. From this First Continental Congress were born the ideas, determination, and courage that eventually transformed 13 colonies into the United States of America.
