Omar Bennett
The Second Continental Congress was the meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolution and the Revolutionary War, which established American independence from the British Empire. The Second Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, which served as the first U.S. constitution. However, the Articles of Confederation were eventually replaced by the U.S. Constitution, which went into effect in 1789.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | May 10, 1775 – 1781 |
| Purpose | To plan further responses to the British government's Intolerable Acts and manage the war effort |
| Achievements | Successfully managed the war effort, drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, adopted the first U.S. constitution, secured diplomatic recognition and support from foreign nations, resolved state land claims west of the Appalachian Mountains, and declared America's independence from Britain |
| Delegates | Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, John Hancock of Massachusetts, Peyton Randolph, Thomas Jefferson, and others |
| Outcome | The Articles of Confederation served as the first U.S. constitution until 1789 when it was replaced by the new U.S. Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The Second Continental Congress
During this period, the Second Continental Congress successfully managed the war effort, drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, adopted the first U.S. constitution, secured diplomatic recognition and support from foreign nations, and resolved state land claims west of the Appalachian Mountains. The Congress also appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief of the American army and created a navy. On July 2, 1776, the Congress resolved that the "united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states". Two days later, it approved the Declaration of Independence.
The Articles of Confederation, which the Second Continental Congress prepared, became the first U.S. constitution in March 1781. It established a league of friendship for the 13 sovereign and independent states, with each state retaining "every Power... which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States". The Articles of Confederation also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote. However, the Articles of Confederation proved imperfect, and in 1787, a movement for constitutional reform led to the Philadelphia Convention, where delegates decided to replace the Articles of Confederation with the new U.S. Constitution, which went into effect in 1789.
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The Articles of Confederation
The process of achieving consensus on the Articles of Confederation involved guaranteeing that each state retained its sovereignty, leaving the matter of western land claims to individual states, agreeing on state-by-state voting, and establishing proportional state tax burdens based on land values. The final draft, consisting of six sheets of parchment stitched together, was signed by delegates from all 13 states.
The Articles were eventually replaced by the present-day Constitution in 1789, as concerns arose about the insufficient power of the central government to regulate commerce, taxation, and commercial policy, as well as its inability to support war efforts and settle disputes between states.
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The First US Constitution
The Articles of Confederation served as the United States' first constitution and established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power... which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States." The Articles of Confederation also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population—each state had one vote.
The Second Continental Congress, which met from 1775 to 1781, was a gathering of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolution and the Revolutionary War, which established American independence from the British Empire. The Congress constituted a new federation that it first named the United Colonies of North America, renaming it the United States of America in 1776.
During this period, the Second Continental Congress successfully managed the war effort, drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, secured diplomatic recognition and support from foreign nations, and resolved state land claims west of the Appalachian Mountains. The Congress also appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief of the American army and approved the Declaration of Independence.
The Articles of Confederation, which served as the first US Constitution, were replaced by the U.S. Constitution in 1789. A movement for constitutional reform developed, culminating in the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, where delegates decided to scrap the Articles of Confederation and create a new system of government.
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The American Revolution
The Second Continental Congress succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in Philadelphia. The First Continental Congress was convened in response to the Intolerable (Coercive) Acts passed by the British Parliament, which included measures such as the closing of the port of Boston. The First Congress sent entreaties to King George III to repeal these acts and created the Continental Association to coordinate a boycott of British goods. When hostilities broke out between Americans and British troops at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, the Second Continental Congress was called upon to take charge of the war effort.
The Second Continental Congress functioned as the de facto federation government during the early stages of the Revolutionary War. It raised militias, directed strategy, appointed diplomats, and wrote petitions. On June 15, 1775, it appointed George Washington as commander-in-chief of the American army. It also approved a Declaration of Causes outlining the rationale for taking up arms in the Thirteen Colonies and sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III, affirming the colonies' loyalty. However, by the time the petition reached the king, he had already declared the colonies to be in a state of "open and avowed rebellion".
The Second Continental Congress also played a crucial role in declaring America's independence. On July 2, 1776, it resolved that the "United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states". Two days later, it approved the Declaration of Independence, which was signed on July 4, 1776. The Congress further solidified this independence by drafting the Articles of Confederation, which became the first U.S. constitution. This document established a league of friendship among the thirteen free and independent states, with each state retaining powers not expressly delegated to the United States.
The Articles of Confederation served as the country's constitution until 1789 when it was replaced by the U.S. Constitution that remains in effect today. The Second Continental Congress thus laid the foundation for the creation of the United States of America and its governing documents during the American Revolution.
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The Continental Association
The agreement was a means of settling disputes with Great Britain peacefully. It was based on the earlier Virginia Association of 1769, which was initiated by George Washington and written by George Mason. The Continental Association was signed by 53 of the 56 members of the First Continental Congress and went into effect on December 1, 1774. Compliance with the boycott was largely enforced through local enforcement committees, with public pressure being an overwhelmingly effective tactic.
The articles of the Continental Association imposed an immediate ban on British tea and a ban on importing or consuming any goods from Britain, Ireland, and the British West Indies. It also threatened an export ban on any products from the Thirteen Colonies to Britain, Ireland, or the West Indies, if the Intolerable Acts were not repealed by September 10, 1775. The Association set forth policies by which the colonists would endure the scarcity of goods, and it also included a ban on all ships engaged in the slave trade.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Second Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, which served as the first U.S. constitution. The Articles of Confederation were ratified in 1781 and were replaced by the U.S. Constitution in 1789.
The Second Continental Congress was the meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolution and Revolutionary War, which established American independence from the British Empire. The Congress constituted a new federation that it first named the United Colonies of North America, renaming it the United States of America in 1776.
The Second Continental Congress convened from 1775 to 1781.
