A Radical Congress

The First and second continental congresses' were shaped by differing of opinion from the three parties. Each faction provided convincing arguments for their positions. However the one that was most persuasive and effective in achieving their goals were the Radicals. This is due to their belief of the need to declare independence, "Taxation without Representation", and their disfavor of the Galloway plan.


The First Continental Congress was a body of representatives appointed by the legislatures of Twelve of the colonies except Georgia. It was initially also formed to coordinate a common American response to the Intolerable Acts.The First Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia in 1774, with 55 members. The three distinct groups were the Moderates, Radicals, And Conservatives. The Moderates believe that the relationship between the colonies and the mother counties could still be fixed . The Conservatives thought that the colonies could go back to how everything had been in the past.The Radicals believe that action had to be taken , immediate Independence. The Congress had two primary accomplishments. First, the Congress drafted the "Articles of Association" on October 20, 1774. The Articles formed a compact among the colonies to boycott British goods beginning on December 1, 1774. The Galloway plan , which was an idea made by the conservatives was not excepted by congress. Galloway's plan would have kept the British Empire together, while allowing the colonies to have some say over their own affairs, including the inflammatory issue of taxation.. The second accomplishment of the Congress was to provide for a Second Continental Congress to meet on May 10, 1775.

Though many were opposed to the idea of independence, the radicals thought it was the only way. The Radicals believe that the relationship with the "Mother country" would only get worse. If no solution could be found the the next result would be war. The Intolerable acts had paralyzed the colonies in many way, such as having to accommodate red coats not and not being able to organize freely in Massachusetts . It basically took away most of their freedoms. If they didn't break away soon they would be prisoners in their own homes. The Quebec act ( Which was part of the intolerable acts) gave their land back to the French. The land that they had fought for because of the "Mother country". Not to mention it was being given back to the enemies they had fought against. If the "Mother county" were giving enemies land and and giving the colonies ( their own people) acts and taxes then what would come next.

Another argument that the Radicals made was " Taxation without Representation". It was clear that all the factions agreed on this . Though Parliament argued that the colonist were represented "virtually", all agreed that a "Virtual Representative" knew nothing about the problems and views of the colonies. Another point the radicals said were what was being tax. Things such as paper,tea,sugar, and glass which were everyday thing. If they were taxing the simplest thing what else would they find to tax. The major point that the radicals stressed was that these taxes were making the British rich . After finding out how much tea the mother country own because of the East India tea Co. the colonist realized they were being cheated . Soon more people started to see the radicals point of view and realized that independence might be the only solution. they decided the only way to do this was to come up with a plan that all could agree on as a whole.

As said before the Galloway plan was a plan made by Joesph Galloway (a Conservative).He suggested the creation of an American parliament to act together with the Parliament of Great Britain. Dealing concerns having to do with the colonies each body would have a veto over the other's decisions. The American parliament would consist of a President-General appointed by the Crown, and delegates appointed by the colonial assemblies. The radicals wanting independence disliked Galloway's plan very much. So they came up with a different plan that every one might could agree on. Then the Declaration and Resolves planwas introduced ( also known as the Suffolk resolves ) .Which declared the Intolerable acts null and void. In the end the the Galloway plan was not accepted by the Congress. Which meant radicals won the upper hand and the Declaration of resolves went through.

April 19, 1775 the Battle of Lexington and Concord took place. The Radicals point was finally realized and what they had foreseen had started, the Revolutionary War. The Radicals being persuasive and effective in getting their point across is the reason why we are not under British rule today. In that we can conclude that the revolution was radical and because it was it also paved they way for women's right and slaves to make the society we live in today.