A) Albany Congress INCORRECT The Albany Congress was held in 1754, during the French and Indian War, and was primarily a meeting of colonial representatives to discuss defense and relations with Native American tribes. It is famous for Benjamin Franklin's proposal for colonial unity, the Albany Plan of Union, which was not adopted. This congress was not a response to the Coercive Acts, which occurred two decades later, and thus is not the correct answer.
B) Stamp Act Congress INCORRECT The Stamp Act Congress convened in 1765 in response to the Stamp Act, a direct tax imposed by Parliament on colonial printed materials. This congress produced the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and petitioned the king and Parliament for repeal. While it was an important step in colonial resistance, it was not a response to the Coercive Acts, which were passed later in 1774, making this option incorrect.
C) First Continental Congress CORRECT The First Continental Congress was formed in direct response to the Coercive Acts of 1774. Delegates from twelve colonies met in Philadelphia to coordinate a unified response to British aggression. They issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, established the Continental Association to boycott British goods, and agreed to reconvene in May 1775 if their grievances were not addressed. This congress was a pivotal moment in uniting the colonies and moving toward independence.
D) Second Continental Congress INCORRECT The Second Continental Congress convened in May 1775, after the battles of Lexington and Concord, and served as the de facto national government during the Revolutionary War. It managed the war effort, adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and drafted the Articles of Confederation. While it was a successor to the First Continental Congress, it was not the immediate response to the Coercive Acts, making this option incorrect.
