Third Annual Christian Brothers Academy
Middle School Model United Nations
November 20, 2015
First Continental Congress
Background Guide
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the Third Annual Christian Brothers Academy Model United Nations
Conference. We are Matthew Baldes and Joseph Preziosi, your Chairs for this recreation
of the First Continental Congress. In this council we will delve into the origins of the
United States as we discuss the events that led up to a revolutionary spark that would
forever change the world. In September and October of 1774, representatives from the
Thirteen Colonies, excluding Georgia, met to discuss the problem at hand. The colonists
believed the British had overstepped the agreed upon boundaries laid out under the
practice of salutary neglect, yet the representatives remained divided on a response.
Following in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers, we will debate potential responses to
British activity with the purpose of drafting a document that outlines our concerns and
intentions.
On the next pages is a background guide to the topic you will be discussing
during the conference. This guide will provide you with the historical setting of the First
Continental Congress and outline the basic points of discussion for the conference. In
order to further aid you in your research, we have also included the bloc positions taken
by representatives and the sources used to compile this document. There will also be
questions to consider for this topic, which you may want to contemplate while writing
your position paper or while participating in discussion.
We hope that you will enjoy this committee and have fun experiencing debate and
drafting procedures. We can’t wait to get started.
Sincerely,
Matthew Baldes
Joseph Preziosi
The First Continental Congress:
The Continental Congress
Historical Setting:
For many years, the colonies’
represented the American Colonies and
remained in a state of salutary neglect.
acted as a governing body throughout
There existed laws regulating trade and
the course of the American Revolution.
other aspects of colonial life, but they
Famed for passing the declaration of
were rarely enforced. As long as Britain
independence in 1776, the Continental
made a profit off of their territories
Congress actually first met two years
overseas, they were happy to turn a blind
earlier from September 5 to October 26,
eye. While the colonies had no presence
1774. The colonies felt threatened by the
in Parliament they exercised a certain
overbearing pressure Britain had applied
authority over their land during this
to Massachusetts; fearing any one of
period. Officials like tax collectors and
them could have been next. The British
royal governors could be bribed.
Blockade at Boston and the institution of
Colonial mayors were able to adapt rules
the Intolerable Acts provided the setting
created in the motherland to their liking
in which an organized meeting could
and held the final say in the New World.
finally occur.
Many of the colonial
All of this changed after the
French and Indian War. Known as the
representatives remained divided in
Seven Years War in Europe, the conflict
thought regarding a resolution with
reached across the globe, affecting
Great Britain. Not all were prepared to
Europe and its colonies. After colonists
split from the mother country at this
asked for military aid in the conflict,
time. Prior to adjourning on October 14
Britain entered the conflict on this side
1774, the First Continental Congress
of the American colonists. While they
passed The Declaration and Resolves.
eventually emerged victorious, affirming
This document outlined their grievances
their sovereignty in the Americas,
with Parliament and the Crown. The
Britain amassed copious amounts of debt
Congress agreed to meet again if
fighting the war. Their resources drained
Parliament failed to address their
at home and overseas, the British
concerns.
decided to increase various tariffs and
excise taxes throughout its empire. The
of royal governors and demanded that
Americans would have to share the
cases in the colonies would be tried in
burden of Britain’s national debt.
British Courts. These acts coupled with
Over the next decade the British
the Quebec Act crippled colonial crown
increased various import taxes, cracked
relations. The heaviest blow of this
down on smugglers, and established the
group came from the Boston Port Act.
legitimacy of royal governor. The
This act essentially formed a naval
motherland began to enforce trade laws
blockade around Boston Harbor and
to the great dismay of the colonies.
halted the trade that represented the
Britain affirmed Parliament’s
lifeblood of the city. The colonies were
unquestionable authority over the
furious. They sent supplies to
colonies in the Declaratory Act in 1766
Massachusetts and agreed to convene to
and in the year before the impending
discuss a response to the issues at hand.
first meeting of the Continental
Congress Parliament passed the Tea Act.
This act monopolized the tea industry in
Points of Discussion:
This committee will seek to
favor of the British. Colonists were
construct a valid response to recent
furious. In response members of the
British actions. Prior to adjourning on
Sons of Liberty in Massachusetts
October 14 1774, the First Continental
dumped 342 chests of tea into the
Congress passed The Declaration and
Harbor. This constituted a significant
Resolves. This document outlined their
financial loss to the British.
grievances with parliament and the
To punish the colonies for their crime,
crown at the time. The Declaration and
Parliament instituted a series of Coercive
Resolves did not outline a desire for
Acts. These would come to be known as
separation but rather to return to a
the Intolerable Acts and would spark the
state: “in which both countries found
eventual organization of the First
happiness and prosperity.” This
Continental Congress. These acts called
committee will draft and vote on a
for an increased royal presence in the
document that outlines the grievances
affairs of the Massachusetts colony.
and intentions of the colonies. The
Britain called for the further installment
committee will also discuss an
immediate response and a long-term
plan of action for the colonies. While the
original Continental Congress did not
express a definitive desire for separation,
Questions to Consider:
1. What grievances do the colonies
have with Great Britain?
2. How should the colonies respond
this committee will expand to examine
to the Intolerable Acts and the
the possibility of independence. It will
blockade of Boston?
weigh the benefits and dangers of
3. What are the benefits and
separation. Delegates must take into
drawbacks of legislative unity
consideration the historical relationship
with Great Britain?
between the American Colonies and the
4. What are the benefits and
British Empire while discussing their
drawbacks of independence from
intentions for the future and drafting
Great Britain?
documentation.
5. What steps could be taken to
resolve the disparity of
Bloc Positions:
The representatives of the
colonies lacked a cohesive response to
events at the time. Delegates from New
representation in Parliament
between the colonies and the
motherland?
6. What form of taxation would
York and Pennsylvania wanted a
favor reasonable colonial-crown
resolution with England. The rest of the
economic relations?
Congress was split between those who
7. In the event of independence,
desired equality with England and those
how will the colonies stand
who sought separation. Each of these
against the might of the empire
viewpoints found some representation at
and prosper as a sovereign
the meeting. Delegates should argue
nation?
based on the position of their historical
figure to encourage accuracy and
diversity of opinion.
Sources:

http://www.ushistory.org/decl
aration/related/congress.htm

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18t
h_century/resolves.asp

http://www.ushistory.org/us/
9g.asp

http://www.taxhistory.org/w
ww/website.nsf/Web/THM17
56?OpenDocument