continental congress

(noun)

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.

Examples of continental congress in the following topics:

  • The Second Continental Congress

    • It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met between September and October of 1774.
    • The First Congress established that the Second Continental Congress would convene on May 10, 1775.
    • Many of the same 56 delegates present at the First Continental Congress were in attendance at the Second Congress.
    • By the time the Second Continental Congress met, the American Revolutionary War was already underway.
    • On June 14, 1775, Congress voted to create the Continental Army from Boston militia units.

  • The First Continental Congress

    • The first Continental Congress was held between 1774 and 1775 to discuss the future of the American colonies.
    • The first Continental Congress was influenced by Correspondence Committees.
    • In September, the first Continental Congress, composed of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies—all except Georgia—met in Philadelphia The assembly adopted what has become to be known as the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress.
    • When the first Congress adjourned, it stipulated another Congress would meet if King George III did not acquiesce to the demands set forth in the Declaration of Resolves.
    • The first Continental Congress met in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, PA.

  • The Second Continental Congress

    • The Second Continental Congress was ushered in at the beginning of the Revolution and eventually decided American independence.
    • When the Second Continental Congress came together on May 10, 1775 it was, in effect, a reconvening of the First Continental Congress .
    • By the time the Second Continental Congress met, the American Revolutionary War had already started with the battles of Lexington and Concord.
    • On June 14, 1775, the Congress voted to create the Continental Army out of the militia units around Boston and quickly appointed Congressman George Washington of Virginia as commanding general of the Continental Army.
    • Discuss the role of the Second Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary war

  • The First Continental Congress

    • The Congress also called for another Continental Congress in the event that their petition was unsuccessful in halting the enforcement of the Coercive Acts.
    • On October 26, 1774, the First Continental Congress adjourned.
    • At that point, it became clear that the Continental Congress would have to convene once again.
    • An opening prayer at the First Continental Congress, September 7, 1774, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
    • Compare the goals of the various participents in the Continental Congress with the outcomes achieved

  • The Spreading Conflict

    • When the petition citing grievances was disregarded by King George III, a Second Continental Congress was planned.
    • By the time of the Second Continental Congress, fighting was underway .
    • The Continental Association was a system created by the First Continental Congress in 1774 for implementing a trade boycott with Great Britain.
    • The Association adopted by the Continental Congress was published and often signed by local leaders.
    • Examine how the approach of the Second Continental Congress differed from the First

  • The American Military Forces

    • The Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army in June 1775 and elected George Washington as Commander-in-Chief.
    • On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army, raising 22,000 troops from the Boston area and 5,000 from New York.
    • As the Continental Congress increasingly adopted the responsibilities and posture of a legislature for a sovereign state, the role of the Continental Army was the subject of considerable debate.
    • Congress also created a Continental Navy in 1775.
    • Identify the challenges that the Continental Congress faced in establishing an army.

  • Congress of the Confederation

    • The Congress of the Confederation was the governing body of the United States from 1781 to 1789.
    • As the immediate successor to the Second Continental Congress, it referred to itself as the Continental Congress throughout its 8-year history.
    • The Congress of the Confederation opened in the final stages of the American Revolution.
    • The membership of the Second Continental Congress automatically carried over to the Congress of the Confederation when the latter was created through the ratification of the Articles of Confederation.
    • The last meeting of the Continental Congress was held March 2, 1789, 2 days before the Constitutional government assumed power.

  • Political Strife and American Independence

    • The records of the Continental Congress confirm that the need for a declaration of independence was intimately linked with the demands of international relations.
    • On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee tabled a resolution before the Continental Congress declaring the colonies independent.
    • The Continental Congress was forced to flee Philadelphia at the end of September 1777, as British troops occupied the city.
    • The Continental was a bill issued by Congress to fund the Revolutionary War.
    • Describe the steps taken by the Continental Congress after declaring independence from the British Empire

  • Financial Chaos and Paper Money

    • Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was denied any powers of taxation and could only request money from the state legislatures.
    • States often failed to meet these requests in full, leaving both Congress and the Continental Army chronically short of funds.
    • As more money was printed by Congress, the continental dollars depreciated, and currency depreciation became rampant.
    • For example, in 1779, George Washington wrote to John Jay , who was serving as the president of the Continental Congress, "that a wagon load of money will scarcely purchase a wagon load of provisions".
    • Jay and the Congress responded in May by requesting $45 million from State legislatures.

  • Finance

    • Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was denied any powers of taxation: it could only request money from the states.
    • The states often failed to meet these requests in full, leaving both Congress and the Continental Army chronically short of money.
    • As more money was printed by Congress, the continental dollars depreciated.
    • John Jay, president of the Continental Congress, and the Congress responded in May by requesting $45 million from the States.
    • The states and the Confederation Congress both incurred large debts during the Revolutionary War, and how to repay those debts became a major issue of debate following the war.