What name is given to the committees that united colonists against British actions before the American Revolution?

The committees that played a pivotal role in uniting colonists against British actions prior to the American Revolution were known as the Committees of Correspondence. These organizations were established in the early 1770s and served as a means of communication and cooperation among the colonies. Their primary purpose was to ensure that all the colonies were informed about British policies and legislative actions that were considered oppressive or unjust, such as the Stamp Act and the Intolerable Acts.

The Committees of Correspondence allowed colonists to share information, coordinate resistance efforts, and build a sense of solidarity against British rule. This network became particularly crucial in mobilizing public opinion and organizing collective action, helping to lay the groundwork for the more formal gathering of representatives at the Continental Congress. In contrast, while the Continental Congress was significant for formal representation and decision-making, it came after the Committees of Correspondence had already begun uniting colonial opposition. Other terms like Patriots and Minutemen refer to groups of people opposing British rule or providing military readiness but do not specifically denote the organizational committees that facilitated communication and coordination among colonists.