Eleanor Finch
The Second Continental Congress (1775–1781) was a 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 succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in Philadelphia. The Second Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, which served as the United States' first constitution and was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of meeting | 1775 |
| Purpose | To plan further responses to the British government's actions, and to take charge of the war effort |
| Delegates | Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Patrick Henry, George Washington, and others |
| Actions | Ratified the first national constitution, the Articles of Confederation, which served as the first constitution of the United States |
| Dates of the Articles of Confederation | 1777-1789 |
| Dates of the U.S. Constitution | 1789-present |
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What You'll Learn
- The Second Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies
- The Congress declared America's independence from Britain
- The Congress ratified the first national constitution, the Articles of Confederation
- The Articles of Confederation served as the first US constitution
- The Articles of Confederation were replaced by the US Constitution in 1789
The Second Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies
The Second Continental Congress served as the de facto federation government at the outset of the Revolutionary War, raising militias, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and writing petitions. It also acted as the provisional government of the 13 colony-states, issuing and borrowing money, establishing a postal service, and creating a navy. The Congress adopted the New England military forces that had converged upon Boston and appointed George Washington as commander in chief of the American army on June 15, 1775.
The Second Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation, which, after being ratified by all 13 states, became the first U.S. constitution in March 1781. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the United States' first constitution. The Second Continental Congress also secured diplomatic recognition and support from foreign nations and resolved state land claims west of the Appalachian Mountains.
However, the Articles of Confederation proved to be imperfect, as the central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce, collect taxes, or set commercial policy. The states were on the brink of economic disaster, and the government struggled to settle disputes between states. In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, and in 1789, the new U.S. Constitution went into effect, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
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The Congress declared America's independence from Britain
The Continental Congress served as the government of the 13 American colonies from 1774 to 1789. The First Continental Congress, made up of delegates from the colonies, convened in 1774 in response to the Intolerable Acts, a series of measures imposed by the British government after the colonies resisted new taxes.
The Second Continental Congress met in May 1775, after the Revolutionary War had already begun. In late 1775, Benjamin Franklin, then a member of the Secret Committee of Correspondence, hinted to French agents and other European sympathizers that the colonies were increasingly leaning towards seeking independence. However, most colonists still hoped for reconciliation with Great Britain, even after the war began in April 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
In April 1776, the Continental Congress took a major step towards severing ties with Britain by opening colonial ports in response to the British Parliament prohibiting trade with the colonies. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced a resolution stating that the colonies were "free and independent states." A Committee of Five, chaired by Thomas Jefferson, was appointed to draft an announcement explaining the reasons for independence. On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to declare independence, and two days later, it ratified the text of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare American independence from Great Britain, and it was unanimously ratified on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress.
The Declaration justified the independence of the colonies, citing 27 colonial grievances against King George III and asserting certain natural and legal rights, including the right of revolution. By declaring independence, the American colonists were able to confirm an official alliance with the Government of France and obtain French assistance in the war against Great Britain. The Declaration also had important diplomatic effects, allowing for recognition of the United States by foreign governments.
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The Congress ratified the first national constitution, the Articles of Confederation
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 succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in Philadelphia. The Second Continental Congress first convened in the same city on May 10, 1775, with representatives from 12 of the 13 colonies, following the Battles of Lexington and Concord—the first battles of the Revolutionary War.
The Second Continental Congress served as the de facto federation government at the outset of the Revolutionary War by raising militias, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and writing petitions. It also acted as the provisional government of the 13 colony-states, issuing and borrowing money, establishing a postal service, and creating a navy.
The Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, which, after being sanctioned by all the states, became the first U.S. constitution in March 1781. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
The Articles of Confederation established "a firm league" among the thirteen free 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 would have one vote in Congress. Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion.
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The Articles of Confederation served as the first US constitution
The Articles of Confederation, which was drafted by the Second Continental Congress, served as the first US constitution. The Second Continental Congress (1775–1781) was a meeting of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolution and the Revolutionary War, establishing American independence from the British Empire.
The Second Continental Congress succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met from September 5 to October 26, 1774, in Philadelphia. The Second Continental Congress first convened in the same city on May 10, 1775, with representatives from 12 of the 13 colonies, following the Battles of Lexington and Concord—the first battles of the Revolutionary War. The Second Continental 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 drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, which was adopted as the first US constitution by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. The Articles of Confederation established "a firm league" among the 13 free and independent states, outlining a Congress with representation not based on population—each state was given one vote. The document was signed by delegates from all 13 states and was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789, when the present-day US Constitution took effect.
The Articles of Confederation proved to be imperfect, as the central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, or set commercial policy. It also could not effectively support a war effort or settle disputes between states. As a result, the Articles of Confederation were replaced by the US Constitution in 1789, following the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, which aimed to create a new system of government.
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The Articles of Confederation were replaced by the US Constitution in 1789
The Articles of Confederation, officially the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement and early body of law in the Thirteen Colonies. It served as the nation's first constitution during the American Revolution. The Second Continental Congress debated the Articles of Confederation inside present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia between July 1776 and November 1777. The Articles were finalised and adopted on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781, after being ratified by all 13 colonial states.
The Articles of Confederation 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 also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state had one vote.
However, the Articles of Confederation proved to be inadequate in addressing the challenges facing the young nation in the years following the Revolutionary War. The central government had limited power and faced difficulties in regulating commerce, setting commercial policy, supporting the war effort, and managing the treasury. The country was on the brink of economic disaster, and the central government struggled to resolve disputes between states.
In May 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to address these issues and revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates at the convention decided to go beyond their original mandate and create a new constitution. The new Constitution provided for a stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers. It also established a system of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches.
On March 4, 1789, the government under the Articles of Confederation was replaced by the federal government under the new US Constitution. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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Frequently asked questions
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. It constituted a new federation that it first named the United Colonies of North America, and in 1776, renamed the United States of America.
The Second Continental Congress successfully managed the war effort, drafted the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, and adopted the first U.S. Constitution. It also secured diplomatic recognition and support from foreign nations, and resolved state land claims west of the Appalachian Mountains.
The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. It served as 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 were replaced by the U.S. Constitution, which went into effect in 1789. The delegates at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 decided to scrap the Articles and create a new system of government due to the Articles' inadequacies in addressing the country's issues.
