Question

What was the purpose of the Committees of Correspondence established in the American colonies?

To enforce British tax policies in the colonies
To facilitate communication and cooperation among the colonies
To encourage trade and economic ties with European nations
To promote loyalist sentiments and discourage revolutionary ideas.

Answer 1

Correct option: To facilitate communication and cooperation among the colonies

The Committees of Correspondence were created to facilitate communication and cooperation among the American colonies, playing a key role in organizing opposition to British policies and fostering unity leading up to the Revolutionary War.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Committees of Correspondence were established in the American colonies primarily to facilitate communication and cooperation among the colonies. Stemming from the initiative in Massachusetts, led by Samuel Adams and others, these committees played a vital role in mobilizing colonial opposition to British policies and in fostering a sense of unity among the colonies. They served as an intricate network for spreading information and organizing collective action against British measures perceived as threats to colonial rights and liberties, including the Tea Act of 1773, which they strongly opposed.

Their communication efforts were crucial in the lead-up to the Revolutionary War, as they stirred colonial resentment and played a significant role in the political upheaval that culminated with the First Continental Congress. The concerted resistance they organized showed that these committees were effective in coordinating responses to the British, eventually supplanting royal governments as reliable sources of news and perspectives against the crown's authority.