The Continental Association, also known as the Articles of Association or simply the Association, was an agreement among the American colonies adopted by the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia on October 20, 1774. It was a result of the escalating American Revolution and called for a trade boycott against British merchants by the colonies. Congress hoped that placing economic sanctions on British imports and exports would pressure Parliament into addressing the colonies' grievances, especially repealing the Intolerable Acts, which were strongly opposed by the colonies.
The First Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, published and signed the Continental Association on October 20, 1774; Thomas Jefferson, who was not yet a delegate to the Congress, signed this copy (on lower left)
Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, where the First Continental Congress passed the Continental Association on October 20, 1774
Original Articles of Association, p. 1 See also: Pages 2 and 3 For printed text of the entire document see: WikiSource
Page 3, the signatory page of the Association
The Thirteen Colonies were a group of British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America during the 17th and 18th centuries. Grievances against the imperial government led the 13 colonies to begin uniting in 1774, and expelling British officials by 1775. Assembled at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, they appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army to fight the American Revolutionary War. In 1776, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence as the United States of America. Defeating British armies with French help, the Thirteen Colonies gained sovereignty with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
The Thirteen Colonies of British America: (Dark Red): New England Colonies (Red-Brown): Middle Colonies (Brown): Southern Colonies
Join, or Die by Benjamin Franklin was recycled to encourage the former colonies to unite against British rule.
