Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

Which event prompted the First Continental Congress to convene in 1774?

1. The Boston Tea Party

2. The Intolerable Acts

3. The Stamp Act

4. The Boston Massacre

The correct answer is: The Intolerable Acts

The First Continental Congress convened in 1774 primarily in response to the Intolerable Acts, also known as the Coercive Acts, which were enacted by the British Parliament in 1774. These laws aimed to punish the Massachusetts colony for the Boston Tea Party and included measures such as closing Boston Harbor, revoking the Massachusetts Charter, and allowing British troops to be quartered in private homes. The harshness of these laws galvanized colonial resistance and prompted delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies to gather in Philadelphia to organize a collective response. The goal of the Congress was to address colonial grievances and formulate a united front against British policies, highlighting the growing sense of American identity and the desire for self-governance. This meeting laid the groundwork for further revolutionary actions and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the American Revolution. In contrast, the Boston Tea Party, while a significant act of defiance, occurred a year after the Intolerable Acts and was not the catalyst for the Congress. The Stamp Act and the Boston Massacre were earlier events that contributed to colonial unrest, but they did not directly lead to the convening of the First Continental Congress as the Intolerable Acts did.