Download During the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress

During the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress acted
as the national government, and governed the colonies during war.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE [ edit ]
Describe the work of the Second Continental Congress
KEY POINTS [ edit ]
This body was composed of many of the same delegates as the First Continental Congress, including
the Founding Fathers.
The Second Congress managed the colonial war effort, financing the war with borrowed funds and
without the support of taxes; states were asked to contribute men, supplies, and funds.
With the guidance of Congress, the Patriots moved incrementally towards independence, adopting
the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Congress lacked the power to levy taxes and struggled to finance the Revolutionary War.
With the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, the Congress became known as the Congress of
the Confederation.
In June 1775, Congress created the Continental Army and gave command of the Army to George
Washington.
With the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, the Congress became known as the Congress of
the Confederation.
TERMS [ edit ]
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that
started meeting on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American
Revolutionary War had begun.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 ­ April 17, 1790) was a prominent Founding Father and a
representative of the United States at the signing of the Peace of Paris.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 (April 2, 1743 O.S.) – July 4, 1826) was an American Founding
Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and the third President of
the United States (1801–1809).
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The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the
Thirteen Colonies that formed inPhiladelphia in May 1775, soon after the launch of the
American Revolutionary War. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met
between September and October of 1774.
The First Continental Congress petitioned King George III to repeal the Intolerable Acts
(punitive measures passed byParliament in response to the Boston Tea Party), and initiated
a boycott of British goods. The First Congress established that the Second Continental
Congress would reconvene on May 10, 1775.
Many of the same 56 delegates present at the First Continental Congress were in attendance
at the Second Congress. The delegates reappointed the former Continental Congress
President, Peyton Randolph, and Secretary, Charles Thomson. Randolph was soon called
away by other duties, and succeeded by John Hancock as President. Other notable members
of the Congress included Thomas Jefferson,Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams.
By the time the Second Continental Congress met, the American Revolutionary War was
already underway. For the first few months of this conflict, the Patriots had carried on their
struggle in an ad­hoc and uncoordinated manner. At this point, Congress intervened and
assumed charge of the war effort.
On June 14, 1775, Congress voted to create the Continental Army from Boston militia units.
Congressman George Washington of Virginia was appointed Commanding General of the
Army. On July 6, 1775 Congress approved a Declaration of Causes outlining the rationale and
necessity for taking up arms in the Thirteen Colonies. On July 8, Congress extended
the Olive Branch Petition to the British Crown as a final, unsuccessful attempt at
reconciliation.
The Congress assumed all the functions of a national government, such as appointing
ambassadors, signing treaties, raising armies, appointing generals, obtaining loans from
Europe, and disbursing funds. In the meantime, the Second Continental Congress tried to
lead the new country through the war with borrowed funds and no authority to levy taxes.
The Congress relied on money, supplies, and troops from the states to support the war effort;
however, individual states frequently ignored requests for support.
In September 1777, the Continental Congress was forced to relocate to York, Pennsylvania, as
British troops occupied the city of Philadelphia.
Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull, 1819
The resolution for independence was among the most important accomplishments of the Second
Continental Congress.